incumbent

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/ UK /ɪnˈkʌmb(ə)nt/ See IPA manual

Freq #29399

Meanings

1

adj
Currently holding an official position, especially in politics.

The incumbent president is expected to run for a second term.
2

adj
(followed by 'on' or 'upon') Necessary as a duty or responsibility for someone.

It is incumbent on every member to follow the rules.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms incumbents

Derived forms incumbenceincumbencyincumbentessincumbentlynonincumbentsubincumbentsuperincumbentsuperincumbently

Simplified etymology

Incumbent entered English in the late Middle English period and ultimately derives from Latin cubare, “to lie down.” It shares this root with cubicle.

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.

incumbent Middle English incumbēns la-med -ent Middle English incumbō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# incumbent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈkʌmb(ə)nt/
**Frequency rank:** 29399

## 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
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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