text: what is the history of incumbent?   it is incumbent upon yourself to do an answers.com check in future:  i did it just because i was curious.  imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory: felt it was incumbent on us all to help. lying, leaning, or resting on something else: incumbent rock strata. 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