superincumbent

9.9

To lie on top of something and press down

adjective
/ˌsuːpərɪnˈkʌmbənt/

: superincumbente

The superincumbent weight of the snow caused the roof to sag.

Examples

The superincumbent snow caused the roof to collapse under the weight.
A superincumbent layer of earth covers the ancient ruins.
Archaeologists carefully removed each superincumbent layer of soil to reach the ancient structure.
The roots were flattened by the superincumbent rocks above them.
The superincumbent snow caused the roof to collapse under the weight.
Archaeologists carefully removed each superincumbent layer of soil to reach the ancient structure.
A superincumbent layer of earth covers the ancient ruins.

Synonyms

adpressed

vssuperincumbent

Specialized

9.9

Held very close and flat against a surface or another part

lies on and exerts pressure rather than only touching

appressed

vssuperincumbent

Specialized

9.9

Held close to another surface so it lies flat

lies on and presses down to apply force

superjacent

vssuperincumbent

Specialized

9.9

Directly above something, often in a layer

rests on and applies pressure rather than just being above

Antonyms

detached

2 4.3

Something loose and not fixed to the thing it belongs to

unattached

2 4.2

Not fixed to anything so it can move freely

How Pressing

crushing

1 6.0

superincumbent

9.9

touching

2.5

Surface Forms

superincumbent positive

Morphology

superincumbent = incumbent (semi-transparent) = super + incumbent

The formation is a straightforward prefixation: 'super-' added to the adjective 'incumbent' yields the sense 'lying on or above'.

Etymology

The word superincumbent breaks into super- meaning 'above' and incumbent from a root meaning 'to lie on', an idea you also see in incubate which means 'to sit on eggs' and recumbent which means 'lying down'. So a superincumbent thing is one that lies on top of something else and often presses down on it.