Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INCUMBENT

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connect today's word to others: Incumbent literally means "lying down on," which is why we say that moths have incumbent wings (which, when at rest, lie horizontally against their bodies) and that we have incumbent sacred duties (which "lie down" on us with their urgent weight). Apparently, in Medieval Latin, lying down on something was sort of the same as having it or holding it--and that's why we call people incumbents when we mean they currently have or hold a certain office, like that of our mayor or our congressional representative. It's not because they lie down on the job. :) With all that in mind, could you explain why incumbent is closely related to recumbent and yet, oddly, not related to unencumbered? (You'll find the answer near the top of the issue for recumbent.) make your point with... "INCUMBENT" First, an incumbent is a person who holds an office, especially a political office. We often talk about incumbents (people who already have their jobs or positions) in comparison to people trying to get that same job or position. Second, tasks and responsibilities can be incumbent on us, meaning they are heavy or serious burdens that "lie down" on us, and it's our job to take care of them. In other words, when some important task or responsibility is incumbent on you, it falls to you: it's necessary for YOU to do it because it's YOUR important task or responsibility. Pronunciation: in COME bunt Part of speech: For the first meaning, "incumbent" is a noun, the countable kind: "these incumbents," "four incumbents," "another incumbent." For the second meaning, "incumbent" is an adjective: "incumbent duties," "a task incumbent on all of us." Other forms: None are common enough to mention. How to use it: For the first meaning, talk about Democratic or Republican incumbents, the incumbents up for re-election, the incumbents hoping to keep their seats in Congress, etc. You can even turn that noun, "incumbent," into a loose adjective: "the incumbent mayor," "their incumbent prime minister." But we'll focus more on the second, more general meaning. Say that some job, task, or responsibility is incumbent on some person or group: "Ensuring safety is incumbent on every employee in this restaurant." Often, we'll use this sentence pattern: "It is incumbent on someone to do something." Some examples: it's incumbent on health professionals to stay current on knowledge in their field; it is incumbent on our government to be good stewards of public funds; it's always been incumbent on college students to manage their own schedules and keep track of their own grades. examples: He's not heartless; he just questions whether it's incumbent on the federal government to fight for social progress on every single front. When I started tutoring a teenager who would open her front door for me, look away, and slink off in silence to the table where we'd work, I realized it may be incumbent on me to teach her how to greet visitors to her home and how to make small talk. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "incumbent" means when you can explain it without saying "obligatory" or "like an urgent burden." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Some particular problem is getting worse somehow), which makes it more incumbent than ever on (someone) to (do something about it)." Example: "Social security is looking more unstable, which makes it more incumbent than ever on young families to save for retirement." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is called Felicitous Names.  A felicitous name for a fictional character is a highly appropriate name, a name that fits that character so perfectly that you just know the writer picked it on purpose. This month, draw on your knowledge of both vocabulary and fiction to pick out the right name for the character described. Enjoy! From our previous issue: Would the most felicitous name for a character who mixes and creates colors be Artemis, Iris, or Persephone? Why?  Answer: Iris. It’s Greek for "rainbow" and closely related to the word "iridescent." Iris is an expert in mixing colors for dyes in Marie Rutkoski's series The Kronos Chronicles. Try this today: We need a felicitous last name for a crude, mean-spirited couple who bring only bitterness and heartache to their young daughter. Will they be the Cassels, the Grangers, or the Wormwoods? Why?  review today's word: 1. A close opposite of INCUMBENT is A. STRAIGHTFORWARD B. NEGLIGIBLE C. SOCIABLE 2. With more and more freshman applications coming in every year, college admissions officers have an incumbent _____. A. power to alter the lives of those young applicants, for better or worse B. responsibility to establish and abide by fair standards C. amount of mindless data entry to tackle Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B