incumbent
    adj 1: lying or leaning on something else; "an incumbent
           geological formation"
    2: necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility; morally
       binding; "it is incumbent on them to pay their own debts"
    3: currently holding an office; "the incumbent governor"
    n 1: the official who holds an office [syn: incumbent,
         officeholder]

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.]
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   1. Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent; superimposed;
      superincumbent.
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            Two incumbent figures, gracefully leaning upon it.
                                                  --Sir H.
                                                  Wotton.
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            To move the incumbent load they try.  --Addison.
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   2. Lying, resting, or imposed, as a duty or obligation;
      obligatory; always with on or upon.
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            All men, truly zealous, will perform those good
            works that are incumbent on all Christians. --Sprat.
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   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.
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   4. (Zool.) Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on,
      something else; as, the incumbent toe of a bird.
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Incumbent \In*cum"bent\, n.
   A person who is in present possession of a benefice or of any
   office.
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         The incumbent lieth at the mercy of his patron.
                                                  --Swift.
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INCUMBENT, eccles. law. A clerk resident on his benefice with cure; he is so 
called because he does, or ought to, bend the whole of his studies to his 
duties. In common parlance, it signifies one who is in the possession of an 
office, as, the present incumbent. 

INCUMBENT, n.  A person of the liveliest interest to the outcumbents.