burthen

noun

1. (alt-of, archaic)Archaic form of burden.

   “Nor less, I trust, To them I may have owed another gift, Of aspect more sublime; that blessed mood, In which the burthen of the mystery, In which the heavy and the weary weight Of all this unintelligible world, Is lightened:”

   “It was with a daughter of Mr Shepherd, who had returned, after an unprosperous marriage, to her father's house, with the additional burthen of two children.”

   “In some cases the conquering state contented itself with imposing a tribute on the vanquished: who, being, in consideration of that burthen, freed from the expense and trouble of their own military and naval protection, might enjoy under it a considerable share of economical prosperity, […]”

   “Bidding them grope their way out and bestir, […] though the worst Burthen of heat was theirs and the dry thirst”

2. (historical, obsolete)Archaic form of burden.

   “It was a vessel of about seventy tons burthen, and shaped something like a Chinese junk.”

   “[...] and thence to Calstock, a town on the Tamar, which is washed by the sea flowing through Plymouth Sound and Hamoaze, and which place vessels of 200 tons burthen can reach at spring tides—[...].”

3. Archaic form of burden.
4. Archaic form of burden.

verb

1. (alt-of, archaic)Archaic form of burden.

   “he other men were variously burthened; some carrying picks and shovels – for that had been the very first necessary they brought ashore from the Hispaniola – others laden with pork, bread, and brandy for the midday meal.”