incumbent

incumbent · adjective¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ḱewb-
2. Latin · derived fromincumbentem
3. English todayincumbent

From Latin incumbentem + English -ent (suffix denoting the causing, doing, or promoting of an action). Incumbentem is the accusative singular of incumbēns (“reclining”), the present active participle of incumbō (“to lay upon, to lean or recline on; to fall upon, to press down on”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘against; into; on, upon’) + *cumbō (“to lie down, recline”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewb-).

incumbent · noun²

1. Latin · derived fromincumbō“to lay upon, to lean or recline on; to fall upon, to press down on”
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromincumbō“to obtain; to possess”
3. Middle English · inherited from-ent
4. Medieval Latin · derived fromincumbēns“holder of a church position”
5. Middle English · inherited fromincumbent
6. English todayincumbent

From Middle English incumbent, encumbent (“holder of an ecclesiastical benefice, dean, parson, etc.; cleric (?)”), from Medieval Latin incumbēns (“holder of a church position”) + Middle English -ent (suffix denoting one that causes, does, or promotes an action). Incumbēns is derived from Medieval Latin incumbō (“to obtain; to possess”), from Latin incumbō (“to lay upon, to lean or recline on; to fall upon, to press down on”): see etymology 1.

Words from the same roots