incumbent

[in-kuhm-buh nt] /ɪnˈkʌm bənt/
adjective
1.
holding an indicated position, role, office, etc., currently:
the incumbent officers of the club.
2.
obligatory (often followed by on or upon):
a duty incumbent upon me.
3.
Archaic. resting, lying, leaning, or pressing on something:
incumbent upon the cool grass.
noun
4.
the holder of an office:
The incumbent was challenged by a fusion candidate.
5.
British. a person who holds an ecclesiastical benefice.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English (noun) < Latin incumbent- (stem of incumbēns present participle of incumbere to lie or lean upon, equivalent to in- in-2 + cumb- (nasalized variant of cub- sit, lie; see incubus) + -ent- -ent
Related forms
incumbently, adverb
anti-incumbent, adjective, noun
nonincumbent, noun, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for incumbent

incumbent

/ɪnˈkʌmbənt/
adjective
1.
(formal) often postpositive and foll by on or upon and an infinitive. morally binding or necessary; obligatory: it is incumbent on me to attend
2.
usually postpositive and foll by on. resting or lying (on)
noun
3.
a person who holds an office, esp a clergyman holding a benefice
Derived Forms
incumbently, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Latin incumbere to lie upon, devote one's attention to, from in-² + -cumbere, related to Latin cubāre to lie down
Word Origin and History for incumbent
n.

early 15c., "person holding a church position," from Medieval Latin incumbentem (nominative incumbens) "holder of a church position," noun use of present participle of incumbere "to obtain or possess," from Latin incumbere "recline on," figuratively "apply oneself to," from in- "on" (see in- (2)) + -cumbere "lie down," related to cubare "to lie" (see cubicle). Extended to holders of any office from 1670s.

adj.

1560s, in relation to duties or obligations, from Latin incumbentem (nominative incumbens), present participle of incumbere (see incumbent (n.)). The literal, physical sense is rare in English and first attested 1620s.

incumbent in Culture
incumbent [(in-kum-buhnt)]

One who holds a public office. By virtue of their experience in office, their exposure to the public, and their ability to raise campaign funds, incumbents usually have a significant advantage over opponents if they choose to run for reelection.