Middle English Dictionary Entry
incubus n.
Entry Info
| Forms | incubus n. Pl. incubi(i, incubice, incubos. |
| Etymology | L incubus |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A spirit or demon which deludes and terrifies people in dreams, which has intercourse with women in their sleep, and which may drive men mad; (b) a nightmare; (c) a mortal and perhaps natural, if monstrous, creature falsely supposed demonic.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15783 : Þer wunieð in þan lufte..incubii demones; ne doð heo noht muchel scaðe bute hokerieð þan folke; monine mon on sweuene ofte heo swencheð, & monienne hende wimmon þurh heore cræfte kenneð anan.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.419 : That fend þat gooþ a nyȝt, Wommen wel ofte to begile, Incubus hatte be ryȝt.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)57/944 : At Aquitayne was a wommon..a fend..wiþ hire he dude lecherye -- Such a fend..Is icalled Incubus.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.880 : Ther is noon oother incubus but he [the friar], And he ne wol doon hem [women] but dishonour.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7702 : For diuerse goddis of þe wodis grene Appere þere, called Satiry, Bycornys eke, fawny and incuby, Þat causen men ofte to falle in rage.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8088 : Þise spyrites do women schame; Incuby demones, ys cald þer name, ffendes-in-bedde..Þat many woman han forlayn.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)52 : Summe men seide that he [Aristotle] was the son of swech a spirit whech thei clepe Incubus.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.115 : Sprites suche there been, Bitwene the moone and therth, called Incubice, That haue gotten chyldren of wemen vnseene.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)88a/a : Þe Iuel..hatte incubus or ephialtes þe more.
c
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)17.340 (v.1:p.164) : Litle .. of stature .., His forhede with hornes armed .., His feet liche geet .. shape behynde ..: 'Mortal I am, and Goddis creature .. And oon of the duellers of wildernesse .. whom that paynymrie .. Worshippeth for goddis .. And faunes and satires vs doth name And incubos, as her writers descrie.'
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. incubus.