Ran across an interesting set of "cumber"-related words. I wonder if we must distinguish among them by small angular measures:

Accumbent
Decumbent
Incumbent
Procumbent
Recumbent

Upright but leaning? Just one elbow? Not quite supine? Roman-dining style?

Succumbent has to go on the list of Words That Sound Dirty But Aren't.

Use the imagination, neveu.

Succumbent - Submissive; yielding.

More likely, "dirty if done right."

Interesting, Robert! "Decumbent" and "accumbent" seem to mean the same: Lying or reclining. "Decubitus" seems to also mean that, though it also can mean a bedsore (presumably because bedsores develop from lying in bed).

"Incumbent" seems to be slightly different in that it is lying while you rest on something else. "Procumbent" is specifically lying face down. Now "recumbent" seems close to those above, though it seems to have more of a comfort or resting meaning to it, such as lying down really comfortably to read a book.

But, they are very much alike. For example, "accumbent" has the "lying against something" meaning when applied to botany, and its synonyms are described as "decumbent" and "recumbent." So... the differences are slight to almost nothing, I guess.

It makes you wonder why they all exist!

> It makes you wonder why they all exist!

And with a bit of digging, you also have:
cumbent, which seems identical to recumbent;
superincumbent: lying upon and pressing down on; and
ventricumbent: lying face down; prone.

Great additions, shufitz!

Of course, "incumbent" reminds me of entrenched representatives in Congress, unlike "superincumbent" which means lying upon and oppressing... No, wait, that IS the same thing.

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Arvanitis:
Use the imagination, neveu.

Succumbent - Submissive; yielding.

More likely, "dirty if done right."

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I'm so tempted to comment on this!

but instead I'll comment on . . .

Kalleh pointing out:
""Incumbent" seems to be slightly different in that it is lying while you rest on something else."

I think you're right, Richard . . . lying while in the office sounds about right.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Caterwauller,

It's curious that words involving "lying down" sometimes have the root -cumb- (as above; also succumb) and sometimes have the root -cub- (as in incubate and incubus). Does anyone have any idea why?

words involving "lying down"

Because the root for the words is one of those that has a nasal infix, as was discussed in a different thread.

jheem: "the root for the words is one of those that has a nasal infix, as was discussed in a different thread." [I assume you mean at aput's post here, and following.]

OK, obviously it went over my head the first time. To ascertain whether I understand it now, let me try to put it into my own words and ask you whether I understand you correctly.

• With some irregular verbs, the form for one tense includes an extra consonent that does not appear in the verb's other tenses. Such an extra consonent is called an infix.
• It's called a present tense infix if the tense in which that extra consonent is the present-tense form. It's called a nasal infix if the inserted consonent is a nasal consonent (m or n).

Do I have this right? Thanks.

"By George, I think you've got it."