hinder
UK: ˈhɪndə | US: ˈhɪndər
vt. to create difficulties for someone or something, causing delay or obstruction
adj. (archaic) situated at the rear or behind
hinder = hind<back/rear> + er<comparative or agent suffix>
- hind (from Old English hindan, meaning "behind" or "at the back")
- er (a suffix often used to form comparative adjectives or agent nouns in English)
Etymology Origin:
The word "hinder" traces back to Old English hindrian, meaning "to harm or injure," which evolved from hindan ("behind"). The sense of "obstructing progress" emerged from the idea of "holding someone back" (literally, keeping them in the rear). The comparative suffix -er reinforces the notion of relative position or action. Over time, the verb form overshadowed the archaic adjectival use ("rear").
Heavy traffic may hinder your arrival time.
Poor communication can hinder team productivity.
The locked gate hindered their escape.
She refused to let fear hinder her ambitions.
The project was hindered by a lack of funding.