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re·cum·bent

(rĭ-kŭmbənt)

adj.

1. Lying down, especially in a position of comfort or rest; reclining.

2. Resting; idle.

3. Biology Resting on the surface from which it arises. Used of an organ or other structure.

A recumbent bicycle.

[Latin recumbēns, recumbent-, present participle of recumbere, to lie down : re-, re- + cumbere, to lie.]

re·cumbence, re·cumben·cy n.

re·cumbent·ly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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