incubuses

Variant of incubus

incubus definition

in·cu·bus (in′kyə bəs, iŋ′-)

noun pl. incubuses -·buses or incubi -·bi′ (-bī′)

  1. an evil spirit or demon thought in medieval times to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women
  2. a nightmare
  3. anything oppressive; burden

Etymology: ME < LL, nightmare (in ML, demon supposed to cause nightmares) < L incubare: see incubate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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