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adj. 1. Imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory: felt it was incumbent on us all to help. 2. Lying, leaning, or resting on something else: incumbent rock strata. 3. Currently holding a specified office: the incumbent mayor. n. A person who holds an office or ecclesiastical benefice: The incumbent was reelected to another term. [Middle English, holder of an office, from Medieval Latin incumbēns, incumbent-, from Latin, present participle of incumbere, to lean upon, apply oneself to : in-, on; see IN-2 + -cumbere, to recline.] in·cumbent·ly adv. |
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