incubation

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Latin incubationem, from incubare.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

incubation (plural incubations)

1. Sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, to develop the life within, by any process.
2. (pathology) The development of a disease from its causes, or its period of incubation. (See below.)
3. (chemistry) A period of little reaction which is followed by more rapid reaction.
4. Sleeping in a temple or other holy place in order to have oracular dreams.
   • 1978, Benjamin Walker, Encyclopedia of Metaphysical Medicine, Routledge 1978, p. 144:

     Incubation in the vicinity of burial places, cremation grounds, holy wells and sacred streams was common. The ancient Hebrews visited vaults or slept among tombs to get meaningful dreams.

Derived terms

• incubation period

Related terms

• incubate
• incubative
• incubator

Translations

sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young

Finnish: hautominen Greek: επώαση (el) (epóasi) f.

Norwegian: Bokmål: ruge (no)

development of a disease from its causes, or its period of incubation

Finnish: itäminen Greek: επώαση (el) (epóasi) f.

Romanian: incubație (ro) f.

sleeping in a consecrated place for the purpose of dreaming oracular dreams