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incubus - 6 dictionary results
in⋅cu⋅bus
[in-kyuh-buh
s, ing-] 
–noun, plural -bi [-bahy] , -bus⋅es.
[-bahy] , -bus⋅es. | 1. | an imaginary demon or evil spirit supposed to descend upon sleeping persons, esp. 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. |
Origin:
1175–1225; ME < LL: a nightmare induced by such a demon, n. deriv. of L incubāre to lie upon; see incubate
1175–1225; ME < LL: a nightmare induced by such a demon, n. deriv. of L incubāre to lie upon; see incubate
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To incubus
| in·cu·bus (ĭn'kyə-bəs, ĭng'-) n. pl. in·cu·bus·es or in·cu·bi (-bī')
[Middle English, from Late Latin, alteration of Latin incubō, from incubāre, to lie down on; see incubate.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Incubus
In"cu*bus\, n.; pl. E. Incubuses, L. Incubi. [L., the nightmare. Cf. Incubate.]1. A demon; a fiend; a lascivious spirit, supposed to have sexual intercourse with women by night. --Tylor. The devils who appeared in the female form were generally called succubi; those who appeared like men incubi, though this distinction was not always preserved. --Lecky. 2. (Med.) The nightmare. See Nightmare. Such as are troubled with incubus, or witch-ridden, as we call it. --Burton. 3. Any oppressive encumbrance or burden; anything that prevents the free use of the faculties. Debt and usury is the incubus which weighs most heavily on the agricultural resources of Turkey. --J. L. Farley.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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incubus
c.1205, 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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: in·cu·bus
Pronunciation: 'i[ng]-ky&-b&s, 'in-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural in·cu·bi /-"bI, -"bE/ also in·cu·bus·es
1 : an evil spirit at one time thought to lie on persons in their sleep; especially : one thought to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women —compare SUCCUBUS
2 :
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
