incubus

[ in-kyuh-buhs, ing- ]

/ ˈɪn kyə bəs, ˈɪŋ- /

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noun, plural in·cu·bi

[in-kyuh-bahy, ing-], /ˈɪn kyəˌbaɪ, ˈɪŋ-/, in·cu·bus·es.

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).

a nightmare.

something that weighs upon or oppresses one like a nightmare.

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Origin of incubus

1175–1225; Middle English <Late Latin: a nightmare induced by such a demon, noun derivative of Latin incubāre to lie upon; see incubate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incubus

incubus , succubus

Words nearby incubus

incubation, incubation patch, incubation period, incubator, incubous, incubus, incudes, inculcate, inculcation, inculpable, inculpate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use incubus in a sentence

She is betrayed in the usual manner, and finds, when too late, that she is embracing a hairy incubus which has a long tail.
Ancient Faiths And Modern|Thomas Inman
Everything in life looked too bright since I succeeded in ridding myself of this incubus, and, then I found you.
Forging the Blades|Bertram Mitford
Penniless and dclasse, the beautiful fugitive was an embarrassing incubus to her Roman relations.
Court Beauties of Old Whitehall|W. R. H. Trowbridge
Even in times when we felt no personal danger, this incubus of savage life all around weighed on our hearts.
Mary and I|Stephen Return Riggs

The Marconi scandal was an incubus which lay heavily on the Government throughout the year.
Mr. Punch's History of Modern England Vol. IV of IV.|Charles L. Graves

British Dictionary definitions for incubus

incubus

/ (ˈɪnkjʊbəs) /

noun plural -bi (-ˌbaɪ) or -buses

a demon believed in folklore to lie upon sleeping persons, esp to have sexual intercourse with sleeping womenCompare succubus

something that oppresses, worries, or disturbs greatly, esp a nightmare or obsession

Word Origin for incubus

C14: from Late Latin, from incubāre to lie upon; see incubate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

incubus

COMPARE MEANINGS

Origin of incubus

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH incubus

Words nearby incubus

Words related to incubus

How to use incubus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for incubus

Word Origin for incubus