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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Incumbent


INCUM'BENT, adjective [Latin incumbens, incumbo; in and cumbo, to lie down.]

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. The person who is in present possession of a benefice, or of any office. [It is applied to civil officers as well as to ecclesiastical.]