cumbersome

the word 'cumbersome' originates from the middle english verb 'cumbren', meaning to distress or trouble, which itself derived from the old french 'combrer' (to hinder or block). the suffix '-some', of old english origin, is used to form adjectives indicating a tendency or full of a quality. the literal sense of 'cumbersome' is thus "characterized by being a hindrance." over time, this abstract notion of being troublesome evolved specifically to describe objects that are physically unwieldy, heavy, or awkward to handle, and by extension, processes that are inefficiently slow or complicated.

Structure: cumber (to hinder) + some (characterized by) cumber (from middle english 'combren', meaning to encumber or hinder, of old french origin); some (a suffix forming adjectives, from old english '-sum', meaning characterized by a specified quality).