Burthen vs. Burden — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 29, 2024
Burthen and burden are both terms related to load or responsibility; however, "burthen" is an archaic spelling still used in some legal or poetic contexts, while "burden" is the modern standard spelling used in everyday language.
Difference Between Burthen and Burden
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Key Differences
Burthen, once commonly used in English, has largely fallen out of regular use and remains primarily in historical texts, whereas burden is universally recognized and employed in contemporary English to denote a load or a heavy weight.
In legal documents or in the context of nautical terms, burthen may still appear to signify a ship's carrying capacity, while burden refers more broadly to anything that is emotionally or physically demanding.
When discussing poetry or classical literature, one might encounter burthen used metaphorically to describe an emotional weight, on the other hand, in modern literature and daily communication, burden is used to express similar concepts.
Burthen reflects the linguistic style of earlier periods of English, contributing to a more formal or dated tone, whereas burden is straightforward and aligns with modern language practices.
In terms of phonetics and spelling, both words share similar sounds, but the contemporary spelling with "burden" simplifies written communication, while the spelling "burthen" might confuse or appear as a typographical error to modern readers.
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Comparison Chart
Usage
Archaic, mostly historical and legal
Contemporary, common in everyday language
Context
Found in legal, nautical, and poetic texts
Used in general discourse and modern literature
Connotation
Often retains a formal or old-fashioned tone
Generally perceived as straightforward and modern
Spelling
Spelled with "th"
Spelled with "d"
Recognition
May be unfamiliar or confusing to modern audiences
Widely recognized and understood
Compare with Definitions
Burthen
Used in legal terms to indicate obligations or liabilities.
The burthen of proof lies with the prosecution.
Burden
A load, especially a heavy one.
The burden of the heavy boxes slowed her down.
Burthen
In nautical contexts, it refers to a ship's carrying capacity.
The ship's burthen was recorded meticulously to ensure it was not surpassed.
Burden
In music, refers to a refrain or chorus.
The burden of the song was catchy and memorable.
Burthen
An archaic form of burden, referring to a load or weight.
The burthen of the ancient manuscript was evident in its language.
Burden
A responsibility or duty.
The burden of leadership weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Burthen
Poetically used to express emotional weight.
His heart carried a heavy burthen through the narrative.
Burden
In electrical engineering, the load impedance in a circuit.
He calculated the burden to optimize the circuit performance.
Burthen
Historically, it was used to describe a quantity or volume of something.
The burthen of the harvest was greater than expected.
Burden
Something that is carried.
Burthen
A burden.
Burden
Something that is emotionally difficult to bear.
Burthen
The tonnage of a ship based on the number of tuns of wine that it could carry in its holds.
Burden
A source of great worry or stress; weight
The burden of economic sacrifice rests on the workers of the plant.
Burthen
Archaic form of burden
Burden
A responsibility or duty
The burden of organizing the campaign fell to me.
Burthen
Archaic form of burden
Burden
A principal or recurring idea; a theme
"The burden of what he said was to defend enthusiastically the conservative aristocracy" (J.A. Froude).
Burthen
See Burden.
Burden
A drone, as of a bagpipe or pedal point.
Burthen
A variant of `burden'
Burden
(Archaic) The chorus or refrain of a composition.
Burthen
Weight down with a load
Burden
(Archaic) The bass accompaniment to a song.
Burden
The amount of cargo that a vessel can carry.
Burden
The weight of the cargo carried by a vessel at one time.
Burden
The amount of a disease-causing entity present in an organism.
Burden
To cause difficulty or distress to; distress or oppress.
Burden
To load or overload.
Burden
A heavy load.
Burden
A responsibility, onus.
Burden
A cause of worry; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.
Burden
The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry.
A ship of a hundred tons burden
Burden
(mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.
Burden
(metalworking) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.
Burden
A fixed quantity of certain commodities.
A burden of gad steel is 120 pounds.
Burden
A birth.
... that bore thee at a burden two fair sons.
Burden
(medicine) The total amount of toxins, parasites, cancer cells, plaque or similar present in an organism.
Burden
(music) A phrase or theme that recurs at the end of each verse in a folk song or ballad.
Burden
The drone of a bagpipe.
Burden
Theme, core idea.
The burden of the argument
Burden
(transitive) To encumber with a literal or figurative burden.
To burden a nation with taxes
Burden
(transitive) To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable).
Burden
That which is borne or carried; a load.
Plants with goodly burden bowing.
Burden
That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.
Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone,To all my friends a burden grown.
Burden
The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden.
Burden
The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.
Burden
The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.
Burden
A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.
Burden
A birth.
Burden
The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; as, the burden of a prayer.
I would sing my song without a burden.
Burden
The drone of a bagpipe.
Burden
A club.
Burden
To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.
I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened.
Burden
To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to burden a nation with taxes.
My burdened heart would break.
Burden
To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable).
It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell.
Burden
An onerous or difficult concern;
The burden of responsibility
That's a load off my mind
Burden
Weight to be borne or conveyed
Burden
The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
Burden
The central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse
Burden
Weight down with a load
Burden
Impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to;
He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend
Common Curiosities
Is "burthen" recognized by most modern English dictionaries?
Yes, most English dictionaries recognize "burthen" but typically mark it as archaic or obsolete.
Can "burthen" be found in modern legal texts?
Yes, "burthen" might still appear in some modern legal texts, especially those that use a traditional style or in jurisdictions that preserve older forms of language.
How is "burden" used in the context of law?
In legal terminology, "burden" often pertains to "burden of proof," referring to the obligation to prove allegations during litigation.
What does "burden" commonly imply in psychology?
In psychology, "burden" often refers to the mental strain or stress experienced by an individual, e.g., caregiver burden.
How does "burden" relate to responsibilities in a workplace setting?
In the workplace, "burden" often refers to the duties or responsibilities that can be heavy or overwhelming, e.g., the burden of deadlines.
What advice is given to writers regarding the use of "burthen" and "burden"?
Writers are generally advised to use "burden" unless aiming for a specific, archaic effect or adhering to traditional forms in poetic or legal contexts.
How do non-native English speakers typically respond to encountering "burthen" in texts?
Non-native speakers may find "burthen" confusing or difficult to understand due to its rarity and archaic nature.
What impact does using "burthen" instead of "burden" have on text readability?
Using "burthen" may affect readability by making the text seem dated or more formal than necessary.
What are the implications of using "burden" in religious texts?
In religious contexts, "burden" can refer to spiritual responsibilities or moral obligations, often discussed in teachings or scripture.
How does the poetic use of "burthen" differ from its use in everyday language?
In poetry, "burthen" can add a lyrical or nostalgic element, contrasting with its straightforward, practical implication in everyday language.
Are there any specific industries or fields where "burthen" is still regularly used?
Apart from legal documents, "burthen" is rarely used in specific industries, with most modern fields preferring "burden."
Can the use of "burthen" in a document affect its interpretation?
Yes, using "burthen" may give a text an archaic tone, which can influence how its content is perceived, especially in legal interpretations.
Is there a difference in the emotional impact of "burthen" vs. "burden"?
Yes, "burthen" might evoke a historical or more profound emotional response due to its old-fashioned tone, while "burden" is more straightforward and familiar.
What factors should be considered when deciding to use "burthen" or "burden" in a text?
Considerations include the intended audience, the context of the document, the desired tone, and the historical or stylistic accuracy required by the text.
Are there any common misinterpretations of "burden" in modern usage?
Misinterpretations of "burden" are rare since it is widely understood; however, it may be mistaken for a purely negative term when it can also denote responsibility in a neutral sense.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
