Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Incumbent
In-cum′bent
,Adj.
[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.)
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.
(Zool.)
Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on, something else;
as, the
. incumbent
toe of a birdIn-cum′bent
,Noun.
A person who is in present possession of a benefice or of any office.
The
incumbent
lieth at the mercy of his patron. Swift.
Webster 1828 Edition
Incumbent
INCUM'BENT
,Adj.
1.
Lying or resting on. And when to move th'incumbent load they try.
2.
Supported; buoyed up. And fly incumbent on the dusky air.
3.
Leaning on, or resting against; as incumbent stamens or anthers, in botany.4.
Lying on, as duty or obligation; imposed and emphatically urging or pressing to performance; indispensable. All men, truly zealous, will perform those good works which are incumbent on all christians.
INCUM'BENT
,Noun.