incumbent的词源

英文词源

incumbent (n.): early 15c., "person holding a church position," from Medieval Latin incumbentem (nominative incumbens) "holder of a church position," noun use of present participle of incumbere "to obtain or possess," from Latin incumbere "recline on," figuratively "apply oneself to," from in- "on" (see in- (2)) + -cumbere "lie down," related to cubare "to lie" (see cubicle). Extended to holders of any office from 1670s.
incumbent (adj.): 1560s, in relation to duties or obligations, from Latin incumbentem (nominative incumbens), present participle of incumbere (see incumbent (n.)). The literal, physical sense is rare in English and first attested 1620s.

in-,进入，使，在上面，-cumb,躺，词源同incubate,succumb.即躺在上面的，引申词义在任者。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：incumbent 词源，incumbent 含义。