incubus

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Quotations 1.3.2 Translations 1.3.3 See also 2 Dutch 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Noun 2.2.1 Synonyms 2.2.2 See also

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Late Latin incubus < Latin incubo ‘nightmare, one who lies down on the sleeper’ < incubare ‘to lie upon, to hatch’ < in- ‘on’ + cubare ‘to lie’ < Proto-Indo-European base *keu(b)- ‘to bend, to turn’.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɪnkjuːbəs/

[edit] Noun

incubus (plural incubi or incubuses)

1. An evil spirit supposed to oppress people while asleep, especially to have sex with women as they sleep.
2. A feeling of oppression during sleep; night terrors, a nightmare.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. I, New York 2001, p. 249:

     it increaseth fearful dreams, incubus, night-walking, crying out, and much unquietness [...].

3. Any oppressive thing or person; a burden.
4. (insect) One of a genus of parasitic insects.

[edit] Quotations

• For examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• succubus

---

[edit] Dutch

[edit] Etymology

From Late Latin incubus < Latin incubo ‘nightmare, one who lies down on the sleeper’ < incubare ‘to lie upon, to hatch’ < in- ‘on’ + cubare ‘to lie’ < Proto-Indo-European base *keu(b)- ‘to bend, to turn’.

[edit] Noun

incubus m. (plural incubi, diminutive incubusje, diminutive plural incubusjes)

1. An incubus, evil spirit
2. A nightmare, horrible dream
3. A burden, obsession, yoke

[edit] Synonyms

• (nightmare) nachtmerrie

[edit] See also

• succubus m.