incubus


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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.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

incubus

(ˈɪnkjʊbəs)
n, pl -bi (-ˌbaɪ) or -buses
1. (European Myth & Legend) a demon believed in folklore to lie upon sleeping persons, esp to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women. Compare succubus
2. something that oppresses, worries, or disturbs greatly, esp a nightmare or obsession
[C14: from Late Latin, from incubāre to lie upon; see incubate]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

in•cu•bus

(ˈɪn kyə bəs, ˈɪŋ-)

n., pl. -bi (-ˌbaɪ)
-bus•es.
1. an evil spirit supposed to descend upon sleeping persons, esp. one fabled to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women. Compare succubus (def. 1).
3. something that oppresses one like a nightmare.
[1175–1225; Middle English < Late Latin: a nightmare induced by such a demon]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

incubus

a demon alleged to lie upon people in their sleep and especially to tempt women to sexual relations. — incubi, n. pl.
See also: Demons
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

incubus


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A demon sent by the Devil to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women. Incubi are sex elementals and may be half human, half animal.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.incubus - a male demon believed to lie on sleeping persons and to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women
daemon, daimon, demon, devil, fiend - an evil supernatural being
2.incubus - a situation resembling a terrifying dreamincubus - a situation resembling a terrifying dream
situation - a complex or critical or unusual difficulty; "the dangerous situation developed suddenly"; "that's quite a situation"; "no human situation is simple"
3.incubus - someone who depresses or worries others
disagreeable person, unpleasant person - a person who is not pleasant or agreeable
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
كابوس
incubus
Incubus
inkubusz
incuboincubus
incubus
incubus

incubus

[ˈɪŋkjʊbəs] N (incubuses or incubi (pl)) [ˈɪŋkjʊˌbaɪ]íncubo m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

incubus

n
(= demon)Alp m
(= burden)Albtraum m, → Alptraum m, → drückende Last
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
As this was his fourth offense, Miranda inquired how many bones there were in the human body, "so 't they'd know when Mark got through breakin' 'em." The time for paying the interest on the mortgage, that incubus that had crushed all the joy out of the Randall household, had come and gone, and there was no possibility, for the first time in fourteen years, of paying the required forty-eight dollars.
The little store of sovereigns in the tin box seemed to be the only sight that brought a faint beam of pleasure into the miller's eyes,--faint and transient, for it was soon dispelled by the thought that the time would be long--perhaps longer than his life,--before the narrow savings could remove the hateful incubus of debt.
Victor Hugo relates that in the Channel Islands Satan himself -- tempted more than elsewhere by the beauty of the women, doubtless -- sometimes plays at incubus , greatly to the inconvenience and alarm of the good dames who wish to be loyal to their marriage vows, generally speaking.
Relieved from this incubus, the little party now went on cheerily.
Instead of letting her take herself off to some other house, as she offered to do when I married, I was fool enough to ask her to live here still, and direct the affairs of the house for me; because, in the first place, I hoped we should spend the greater part of the year, in town, and in the second place, being so young and inexperienced, I was frightened at the idea of having a houseful of servants to manage, and dinners to order, and parties to entertain, and all the rest of it, and I thought she might assist me with her experience; never dreaming she would prove a usurper, a tyrant, an incubus, a spy, and everything else that's detestable.
He was appalled at the problem confronting him, weighted down by the incubus of his working-class station.
Never, on any previous occasion, had he practiced more successfully the social art which he habitually cultivated -- the art of casting himself on society in the character of a well-bred Incubus, and conferring an obligation on his fellow-creatures by allowing them to sit under him.
I summon all Rather to be in readiness with hand Or counsel to assist, lest I, who erst Thought none my equal, now be overmatched." So spake the old Serpent, doubting, and from all With clamour was assured their utmost aid At his command; when from amidst them rose Belial, the dissolutest Spirit that fell, The sensualest, and, after Asmodai, The fleshliest Incubus, and thus advised:-- "Set women in his eye and in his walk, Among daughters of men the fairest found.
The incubus of legs and chelae and vital organs will be removed.
But as Miss Ferdinand is at present weighed down by an incubus'--Miss Twinkleton might have said a pen-and-ink-ubus of writing out Monsieur La Fontaine--
My wealthy relative's cheque--henceforth, the incubus of my existence-- warns me that I have not done with this record of violence yet.
The paralysis it occasioned in his system, was like the effect of the incubus. Equally unable to fly or to advance, he stood riveted to the spot, until the infatuation became so complete, that the worthy naturalist was beginning, by a desperate effort of scientific resolution, even to class the different specimens.