incubus

[ in-kyuh-buhs, ing- ]

noun

, plural in·cu·bi [in, -ky, uh, -bahy, ing, -], in·cu·bus·es.

1. 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 ).
2. a nightmare.
3. something that weighs upon or oppresses one like a nightmare.

incubus

/ ˈɪnkjʊbəs /

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of incubus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of incubus¹

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

Example Sentences

Let’s pause here briefly to note that Immanuel is likely referencing incubi and succubi in her sermons.

From The Guardian

In similar spirit, Johnson found fresh depths of populist vulgarity when he spoke last June of pitchforking the EU incubus off the nation’s back.

From The Guardian

All so they can keep expanding, squatting over lives like feudal incubi.

From The Guardian

The woman — girl, really — was physically tiny, not to mention inappropriately dressed for the task of extracting this colossal incubus, this 10-ton Minotaur, from the fourth floor.

From New York Times

For decades, poorly justified scientific fears of future warming have hovered as an incubus over U.S. energy development.

From Wall Street Journal