Hamper Meaning
/ˈhæm.pə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA large basket, usually with a cover, used for the packing and carrying of articles or small animals.
nounA wicker or plastic basket specifically for holding laundry (from clothes hamper).
Sentence Examples
A well-used creel might better not be picked as a picnic hamper.
Please be quiet and don't hamper my work.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The heavy rain will ____ our plans for a picnic in the park.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bad weather will likely ____ our progress on the construction project.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English hamper, contracted from hanaper, hanypere, from Anglo-Norman hanaper, Old French hanapier, hanepier (“case for holding a large goblet or cup”), from hanap (“goblet, drinking cup”), from Frankish *hnapp (“cup, bowl, basin”), from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz (“cup, bowl”). Cognate with Old High German hnapf (“cup, bowl, basin”) (German Napf (“bowl”)), Dutch nap (“cup”), Old English hnæpp (“bowl”). More at nap.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Wife. Away George, away, raise the watch at Ludgate, and bring a Mittimus from the Iustice for this desperate villaine. Now I charge you Gentlemen, see the Kings peace kept. O my heart what a varlet's this to offer manslaughter vpon the harmlesse Gntlewoman?
Cit. I warrant thee (sweet heart) wee'l haue him hampered."
— 1607 (first performance), [Francis Beaumont], The Knight of the Burning Pestle, London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Walter Burre, […], published 1613, →OCLC, Act III, signature F2, verso:
"A lion hampered in a net."
— 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
"Engend'ring heats, these one by one unbind, Stretch their small tubes, and hamper'd nerves unwind."
— 1712, Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem:
"They hamper and entangle our souls."
— a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Advantages of Religion:
"NR Senior Programme Manager Adrian Elliott describes the progress to date: "The weather has played a big part in hampering the programme. We had the wettest autumn ever and a number of winter storms to contend with, [...]"
— 2020 April 8, Paul Stephen, “ECML dive-under drives divergence”, in Rail, page 44:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The heavy rain will ____ our plans for a picnic in the park.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bad weather will likely ____ our progress on the construction project.