INCUMBENT
incumbent
(adjective) currently holding an office; “the incumbent governor”
incumbent
(adjective) necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility; morally binding; “it is incumbent on them to pay their own debts”
incumbent
(adjective) lying or leaning on something else; “an incumbent geological formation”
incumbent, officeholder
(noun) the official who holds an office
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
incumbent (comparative more incumbent, superlative most incumbent)
Imposed on someone as an obligation, especially due to one's office.
Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent.
Prevalent, prevailing, predominant.
(botany, geology) Resting on something else; in botany, said of anthers when lying on the inner side of the filament, or of cotyledons when the radicle lies against the back of one of them.
(zoology) Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on, something else.
Being the current holder of an office or a title.
Noun
incumbent (plural incumbents)
The current holder of an office, such as ecclesiastical benefice or an elected office.
(business) A holder of a position as supplier to a market or market segment that allows the holder to earn above-normal profits.
Source: Wiktionary
In*cum"bent, a. Etym: [L. incumbens, -entis, p. pr. of incumbere to lie down upon, press upon; pref. in- in, on + cumbere (in comp.); akin to cubare to lie down. See Incubate.]
1. Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent; superimposed; superincumbent. Two incumbent figures, gracefully leaning upon it. Sir H. Wotton. To move the incumbent load they try. Addison.
2. Lying, resting, or imposed, as a duty or obligation; obligatory; always with on or upon. All men, truly zealous, will perform those good works that are incumbent on all Christians. Sprat.
3. (Bot.)
Definition: Leaning or resting; -- said of anthers when lying on the inner side of the filament, or of cotyledons when the radicle lies against the back of one of them. Gray.
4. (Zoöl.)
Definition: Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on, something else; as, the incumbent toe of a bird.
In*cum"bent, n.
Definition: A person who is in present possession of a benefice or of any office. The incumbent lieth at the mercy of his patron. Swift.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
22 September 2024
SPRINGBOARD
(noun) a beginning from which an enterprise is launched; “he uses other people’s ideas as a springboard for his own”; “reality provides the jumping-off point for his illusions”; “the point of departure of international comparison cannot be an institution but must be the function it carries out”
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