different between responsibility vs encumbrance

English

Etymology

From responsible +? -ity. Although the components are of French origin, the compound appears to have been formed in English. Later-attested French responsabilité is modeled on the English word, and Italian responsabilità is in turn modeled on the French.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???sp?ns??b?l??i/

Noun

responsibility (countable and uncountable, plural responsibilities)

1. The state of being responsible, accountable, or answerable. [from 18th c.]

   Responsibility is a heavy burden.

2. The state of being liable, culpable, or responsible for something in particular.
3. A duty, obligation or liability for which someone is held accountable.

   Why didn't you clean the house? That was your responsibility!

   The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not to dominate the world - Harry S. Truman

   • 1961 May 9, Newton N. Minow, "Television and the Public Interest":

     If parents, teachers, and ministers conducted their responsibilities by following the ratings, children would have a steady diet of ice cream, school holidays, and no Sunday school.

4. (military) The obligation to carry forward an assigned task to a successful conclusion. With responsibility goes authority to direct and take the necessary action to ensure success.
5. (military) The obligation for the proper custody, care, and safekeeping of property or funds entrusted to the possession or supervision of an individual.

Synonyms

• responsibleness (may be considered nonstandard)

Related terms

• see respond

Translations

See also

• accountability

References

• responsibility at OneLook Dictionary Search
• responsibility in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• responsibility in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• responsibility in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928) , “Responsibility”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 1 (Q–R), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 542, column 2.
• Feltus, C.; Petit, M. (2009). "Building a Responsibility Model Including Accountability, Capability and Commitment", Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ( IEEE ), Fukuoka, 2009. Building a Responsibility Model Including Accountability, Capability and Commitment

English

Alternative forms

• incumbrance

Etymology

From Middle English encombraunce, from Old French encombrance, from encombrer.

Noun

encumbrance (countable and uncountable, plural encumbrances)

1. Something that encumbers; a burden that must be carried.

   • Some consideration was necessary to decide whether or not to leave his rifle there. On the return, carrying the girl and a pack, it would be added encumbrance […]

2. (law) An interest, right, burden, or liability attached to a title of land, such as a lien or mortgage.
3. (law) One who is dependent on another.

   a widow without encumbrances, i.e. without children

Synonyms

• encumberment

Translations

Verb

encumbrance (third-person singular simple present encumbrances, present participle encumbrancing, simple past and past participle encumbranced)

1. (law) To apply an encumbrance to (property, etc.).