a. Obs. Forms: α. 6 burthyn-, burthenouse, 7 bourthenous, 6–7 burthenous. β. 6 bourdenous, -dynous, -daynouse, burdeinous, -deynous(e, 6–7 burdnous, 6– burdenous. [f. BURDEN sb. + -OUS, after words from Latin; cf. onerous.]
1. Constituting a burden, burdensome. a. lit. Heavy, ponderous.
1529. More, Dial. Heresyes, II. Wks. (1557), 188/2. Aungels … vncharged of all bourdynous fleshe and bones.
1576. Fleming, trans. Caius’ Dogs, in Arb., Garner, III. 256. A wheel which they [dogs] turn … by the moving of their burthenous bodies.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 9. Anie burthenous weight.
1632. Brome, North. Lasse, I. vii. When you groan beneath your burdenous charge.
b. fig. Onerous, cumbersome; oppressive.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., I. Wks. 1150/2. Job … in … his dispicions with his burdenous comforters.
1567. Drant, Horace’s Epist., I. xiii. If that my booke be burthenouse.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 260. His burthenous taxations.
1657. Cokaine, Obstin. Lady, Poems (1669), 341. The burthenous draught Of misery.
1671. Milton, Samson, 567. To sit idle on the household hearth, A burdenous drone.
† 2. Burdened, oppressed. rare.
1614. R. Tailor, Hog hath lost Pearl, IV. in Dodsley (1780), VI. 421. My burthenous conscience was so fraught with Sin.
1812. W. Tennant, Anster Fair, VI. xiii. The burdenous and bustling multitude.
Hence Burdenously adv.
1556. J. Heywood, Spider & Flie, xci. 25. Ye finalli, burdenuslie, Burdend the flie.
