Incubus
/ˈɪŋ.kjʊ.bəs/noun
A male demon believed to lie upon sleeping women to engage in sexual intercourse with them.
Did you know?The Incubus is often associated with sleep paralysis, where victims feel a weight on their chest, a phenomenon linked to ancient beliefs in demonic visitation.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
incubare
“to lie upon, to lie in wait”
Late Middle Ages
Middle English
incubus
“a demon or male spirit that engages in sexual relations with sleeping women”
14th Century
Old French
incubus
“a male demon of dreams”
Modern English
English
incubus
“a mythological creature known for sexual predation on women while they sleep”