† discumbent, a. and n. Obs.
Also 6 discom-.
[ad. L. discumbent-em, pr. pple. of discumbĕre: see discumb.]
A. adj. Reclining.
| 1715 I. Mather Several Serm. iii. 95 The Jews..sat at their Tables in a discumbent posture. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters I. 197 Bathing is best administered in a discumbent posture. |
B. n.
1. One who reclines at table; a guest at a feast.
| 1562 W. Bullein Use Sickmen 73 b, He cast doune al the meate from the borde, fallyng out with all the discombentes. 1614 T. Adams Devil's Banquet 135 A beastiall Banket; wherein either man is the Symposiast, and the Deuill the discumbent; or Sathan the Feastmaker, and man the Guest. |
2. One confined to bed by sickness; = decumbent n.
| 1765 Gale in Phil. Trans. LV. 193 a.d. 1721 The discumbents were 5,989, whereof 844 died. Ibid. 194 The discumbents were estimated at 4,000, whereof about 500 died. |