INCUMBENT • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Incumbent

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/ɪnkˈəmbənt/ Listen

noun

Incumbent n. A person who is in present possession of a benefice or of any office. "The incumbent lieth at the mercy of his patron."

adjective

Incumbent adj.

Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent; superimposed; superincumbent. "Two incumbent figures, gracefully leaning upon it." "To move the incumbent load they try."

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."

(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.

(Zool.) Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on, something else; as, the incumbent toe of a bird.

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Etymology of 'Incumbent'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Incumbent" Quotes from Famous Books

... filled with the grace of God. I resolved to devote my life to saving souls for Christ. My old habits of sin fell away from me like a garment. I studied for the ministry. I am now in deacon's orders, and I am the incumbent of a little tin mission church in Hoxton. God moves in ...

— The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne • William J. Locke

... our own navigation has at all times appeared to us highly important. The point of view under which you have recommended it to us is strongly enforced by the actual state of things in Europe. It will be incumbent on us to consider in what mode our commerce and agriculture can be best relieved from an injurious dependence on the navigation of other nations, which the frequency of their wars renders a too precarious resource for conveying the productions ...

— A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents - Section 1 (of 4) of Volume 1: George Washington • James D. Richardson

... Venus said. "My goodness, the way you bashed that one bruiser with your drink—that was really excellent. As a matter of fact, I feel it incumbent on me to tell you that I haven't enjoyed a fight so much ...

— Pagan Passions • Gordon Randall Garrett

... it is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the Church, those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the Apostles; those who together with the succession of the episcopate have received the certain gift [charisma] of ...

— A Source Book for Ancient Church History • Joseph Cullen Ayer, Jr., Ph.D.

... The winged insect, imp'd with angel plumes That to heaven's justice unobstructed soars? Why buoy ye up aloft your unfleg'd souls? Abortive then and shapeless ye remain, Like the untimely embryon of a worm! As, to support incumbent floor or roof, For corbel is a figure sometimes seen, That crumples up its knees unto its breast, With the feign'd posture stirring ruth unfeign'd In the beholder's fancy; so I saw These fashion'd, when I noted well their guise. Each, ...

— The Divine Comedy • Dante

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