hinder¹

[hin-der] /ˈhɪn dər/

verb (used with object)

to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede:

The storm hindered our progress.

to prevent from doing, acting, or happening; stop:

to hinder a man from committing a crime.

verb (used without object)

to be an obstacle or impediment.

Origin

before 1000; Middle English hindren, Old English hindrian to hold back, equivalent to hinder hinder² + -ian causative verb suffix

Related forms

hinderer, noun

hinderingly, adverb

unhindered, adjective

unhindering, adjective

unhinderingly, adverb

Synonyms

1. encumber, obstruct, trammel. 2. block, thwart. See prevent.

Antonyms

1. encourage.

hinder²

[hahyn-der] /ˈhaɪn dər/

adjective

situated at the rear or back; posterior:

the hinder part of a carcass.

noun

Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S. the buttocks.

Origin

1250-1300; Middle English; compare Old English hinder (adv.) behind; cognate with German hinter (preposition) behind

Examples from the web for hinder

The last thing you want is for your colleague to hinder your own ability to meet deadlines.
There family roots in what was often viewed as a "crude" and undesirable culture did not hinder them.
This bacteria can be invasive and may hinder the recovery of the damaged reef.
It will hinder the efforts of all presidents henceforth.
He added that a lack of experience would not hinder his ability to fill in.
The weight didn't appear to hinder him professionally.
That has some administrators concerned that the measures could hinder their competitiveness as employers.
Infectious diseases hinder developing countries from developing.
He said the condition would not hinder his ability to do his job.
Have students individually list factors that would promote or hinder the spread of new strains of flu.

British Dictionary definitions for hinder

hinder¹

/ˈhɪndə/

verb

to be or get in the way of (someone or something); hamper

(transitive) to prevent

Derived Forms

hinderer, noun
hindering, adjective, noun

Word Origin

Old English hindrian; related to Old Norse hindra, Old High German hintarōn

hinder²

/ˈhaɪndə/

adjective

(prenominal) situated at or further towards the back or rear; posterior: the hinder parts

Word Origin

Old English; related to Old Norse hindri latter, Gothic hindar beyond, Old High German hintar behind

Word Origin and History for hinder

Old English hindrian "to harm, injure, impair, check, repress," from Proto-Germanic *hinderojanan (cf. Old Norse hindra, Dutch hinderen, Old High German hintaron, German hindern "to keep back"), from a root meaning "on that side of, behind" (cf. hind (adj.)); thus the ground sense is "to put or keep back," though this sense in English is recorded only from late 14c. Related: Hindered; hindering.

adj,

"situated in the rear, toward the back," late 14c., probably from Old English hinder (adv.) "behind, back, afterward," but treated as a comparative of hind (adj.). Related to Old High German hintar, German hinter, Gothic hindar "behind." Middle English had hinderhede, literally "hinder-hood; posterity in time, inferiority in rank;" and hinderling "person fallen from moral or social respectability, wretch."