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

How to use incubus in a sentence

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
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