incubus
Use incubus in a sentence
kyə noun, plural in·cu·bi [-bahy] , in·cu·bus·es.
[-bahy] , in·cu·bus·es. 1.
an imaginary demon or evil spirit supposed to descend upon sleeping persons, especially one fabled to have sexual intercourse with women during their sleep. Compare succubus ( def 1 ).
2.
a nightmare.
3.
something that weighs upon or oppresses one like a nightmare.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To incubus
00:10
incubus
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
incubus (ˈɪnkjʊbəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -bi, -buses | |
| 1. | Compare succubus a demon believed in folklore to lie upon sleeping persons, esp to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women |
| 2. | something that oppresses, worries, or disturbs greatly, esp a nightmare or obsession |
| [C14: from Late Latin, from incubāre to lie upon; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
incubus
c.1200, from L.L. (Augustine), from L. incubo "nightmare, one who lies down on (the sleeper)," from incubare "to lie upon" (see incubate). Plural is incubi. In the Middle Ages, their existence was recognized by law.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
incubus in·cu·bus (ĭn'kyə-bəs, ĭng'-)
n. pl. in·cu·bus·es or in·cu·bi (-bī')
An evil spirit believed to have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep.
A nightmare.
An oppressive or nightmarish burden.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
It shall be one of my cherished objects to remove this incubus of our prosperity.
The steep decline in state capabilities amounts, on its own, to another important element in the incubus of terrorism.
It is, however, an incubus for some three dozen of the world's poorest countries.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
