| 释义 |
in·cum·bent
I. \-bənt\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin incumbent-, incumbens, present participle of incumbere to lie down on, give attention to, from in- in- (II) + -cumbere to lie down (akin to Latin cubare to lie down) — more at hip
1.
a. : the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice
< an archdiocese of which he was the first incumbent — R.P.Casey >
b. : the holder of an office especially a public or academic office
< the holdover Republican incumbents >
< the last incumbent of the professorship >
2. : one that occupies : occupant
< the previous incumbents insisted that the house was haunted >
< the modified bloomer … [makes] the lower part stay put, no matter how the incumbent sprawls — Lois Long >
II. adjective
Etymology: Latin incumbent-, incumbens
1.
a. : lying or resting on something else especially so as to exert a downward pressure : bearing down
b. : lying upon or apposed to — used either of cotyledons folded so that the hypocotyl is applied to the back of one of them or of an anther lying against the side of a filament but attached at only one point; compare accumbent 2
c. of a geologic stratum : superimposed, overlying
d. of a bird's hind toe : so placed that its whole length rests on the ground when the bird is standing — opposed to insistent
2. obsolete : busily engaged : assiduous
3. : falling or imposed as a duty, responsibility, or obligation — usually used with on or upon
< incumbent on us to help >
< demands incumbent upon his position >
4. : having the status of an incumbent
< his duties while incumbent of the secretaryship >
especially : occupying a specified office or position at a time expressed or implied
< defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality >
5.
a. archaic : bending over : overhanging
b. obsolete : impending, threatening
c. : bent over so as to rest on or touch an underlying surface
< incumbent hairs on the body of an insect > |