Main Entry:

¹bur·den

Pronunciation:

\ˈbər-d^ən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English byrthen; akin to Old English beran to carry — more at bear

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: something that is carried : load b: duty, responsibility2: something oppressive or worrisome3 a: the bearing of a load —usually used in the phrase beast of burden b: capacity for carrying cargo <a ship of a hundred tons burden>4: load 11 <worm burden> <cancer burden>