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incubus

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in⋅cu⋅bus

  [in-kyuh-buhs, ing-]
Use incubus in a Sentence
–noun, plural -bi  [-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
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·cu·bus   (ĭn'kyə-bəs, ĭng'-)   
n.   pl. in·cu·bus·es or in·cu·bi (-bī')

  1. An evil spirit supposed to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep.

  2. A nightmare.

  3. An oppressive or nightmarish burden.


[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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Word Origin & History

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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Medical Dictionary

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 : NIGHTMARE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

incubus in·cu·bus (ĭn'kyə-bəs, ĭng'-)
n. pl. in·cu·bus·es or in·cu·bi (-bī')

  1. An evil spirit believed to have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep.

  2. A nightmare.

  3. 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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