incumbent English · revision 39799

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1425, Rolls of Parliament|origins=la incumbō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ɪnˈkʌmb(ə)nt/, /ɪŋ-/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/, /ɪŋ-/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[bor|la-med|incumbēns|t=holder of a church benefice]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(ODE 2010) the present participle used as a noun of [[m|la|incumbō|t=to lie or lean upon, apply oneself to]],^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) which in medieval legal Latin also meant to hold or possess.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) The Latin verb is formed with [[m|la|in-|t=on]] and [[m|la|-cumbō]], a nasalized form related to [[m|la|cubō|t=to lie]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Skeat 1911) The OED and Hoad note that the church sense of the noun is peculiar to English.^(OED 2026)^(Hoad 1986) The adjective was taken from the Latin participle in the 16th century,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) though Barnhart thinks it probably came from the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The holder of an ecclesiastical benefice: 1425, in the Rolls of Parliament.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Barnhart dates it to about 1410, in a version of Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales'',^(Barnhart 1988) and Etymonline to the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun was extended to the holder of any office from 1672, in Andrew Marvell's ''The Rehearsal Transpros'd''.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The adjective first appears in 1548, in the sense busy, applying oneself to a task, according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and since 1567 in the sense resting upon someone as a duty or obligation,^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) still its commonest use, as in ''incumbent on'' or ''incumbent upon''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024) The literal sense, lying or pressing with its weight on something, is recorded from 1624,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and was taken up in physics for the pressure of air or water (1660, in Robert Boyle), and in geology, botany and entomology for overlying strata, anthers and wings that lie flat.^(OED 2026) The senses impending (1646–1793) and weighing on the mind (1651–1711, in Hobbes) are obsolete.^(OED 2026)^(SOED 2002) Johnson (1755) gave the adjective as resting or lying upon, and imposed as a duty.^(Johnson 1755) The adjectival use for someone currently holding an office, as in ''the incumbent president'', is recorded in modern dictionaries.^(AHD 2024)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1410 – a holder of a church benefice.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1425 – the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1548 – adjective, busy at a task.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1567 – adjective, resting on someone as a duty.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1624 – adjective, resting or pressing on something.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1660 – (physics) of air or water pressing down.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1672 – the holder of any office.^(OED 2026)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The holder of an [[office]] or post, especially an elected one: ''The incumbent easily won a third term.''^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+ # (Christianity) A [[clergyman]] holding a [[benefice]], such as a [[rector]] or [[vicar]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Imposed as a [[duty]] or responsibility; [[obligatory]], usually with ''on'' or ''upon'': ''It is incumbent on the committee to report by June.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Currently holding a particular office: ''the incumbent governor''.^(AHD 2024)^(COED 2004)

+ # (formal) Lying, leaning or resting on something.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[incumbently]]

+ * [[superincumbent]]

+ * [[incumbency]]

+ * [[nonincumbent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[incubate]]

+ * [[cubicle]]

+ * [[recumbent]]

+ * [[succumb]]

+ * [[procumbent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}