Incumbent \In*cum"bent\, a. [L. incumbens, -entis, p. pr. of
incumbere to lie down upon, press upon; pref. in- in, on +
cumbere (in comp.); akin to cubare to lie down. See
Incubate.]
1. Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent; superimposed;
superincumbent.
Two incumbent figures, gracefully leaning upon it.
--Sir H.
Wotton.
To move the incumbent load they try. --Addison.
2. 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. --Sprat.
3. (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. --Gray.
4. (Zo["o]l.) Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest
on, something else; as, the incumbent toe of a bird.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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