## Meanings
1. Currently holding an official position, especially in politics.
2. (followed by 'on' or 'upon') Necessary as a duty or responsibility for someone.

## Examples
- The incumbent president is expected to run for a second term.
- It is incumbent on every member to follow the rules.

## Derived Forms
- incumbence
- incumbency
- incumbentess
- incumbently
- nonincumbent
- subincumbent
- superincumbent
- superincumbently

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: incumbent
- Root: incumbēns
- Root: -ent
- Root: incumbō

## Etymology
From Middle English incumbent, encumbent (“holder of an ecclesiastical benefice, dean, parson, etc.; cleric (?)”), from Medieval Latin incumbēns (“holder of a church position”) + Middle English -ent (suffix denoting one that causes, does, or promotes an action). Incumbēns is derived from Medieval Latin incumbō (“to obtain; to possess”), from Latin incumbō (“to lay upon, to lean or recline on; to fall upon, to press down on”): see etymology 1.

## AI Etymology
Incumbent is from Middle English incumbent, encumbent (“holder of an ecclesiastical benefice, dean, parson, etc.; cleric (?)”), from Medieval Latin incumbēns (“holder of a church position”) + Middle English -ent (suffix denoting one that causes, does, or promotes an action). Incumbēns is derived from Medieval Latin incumbō (“to obtain; to possess”), from Latin incumbō (“to lay upon, to lean or recline on; to fall upon, to press down on”): see etymology 1. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include incumbent (Middle English), incumbēns (la-med), -ent (Middle English), incumbō (la-med), and incumbō (Latin). Current senses include currently holding an official position, especially in politics and (followed by 'on' or 'upon') Necessary as a duty or responsibility for someone. The wider family includes derived forms such as incumbence, incumbency, incumbentess, incumbently, and nonincumbent.

## Topics
- Law & Government
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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