incubus
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also Incubus
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Late Latin incubus, from Latin incubo (“nightmare, one who lies down on the sleeper”), from incubāre (“to lie upon, to hatch”), from in- (“on”) + cubāre (“to lie”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
incubus (plural incubi or incubuses)
- An evil spirit supposed to oppress people while asleep, especially to have sex with women as they sleep.
- 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 [...].
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. I, New York 2001, p. 249:
- Any oppressive thing or person; a burden.
- One of a genus of parasitic insects.
[edit] Quotations
- For examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.
[edit] Synonyms
- (a nightmare): nightmare
[edit] Hypernyms
- (an evil spirit): evil spirit, spirit
[edit] Translations
an evil spirit
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a nightmare
oppressive thing or person; a burden
[edit] See also
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Etymology
From Late Latin incubus, from Latin incubo (“nightmare, one who lies down on the sleeper”), from incubare (“to lie upon, to hatch”).
[edit] Noun
incubus m. (plural incubussen or incubi, diminutive incubusje)
[edit] Synonyms
- (nightmare) nachtmerrie
[edit] See also
- succubus m.
