In"cu*bus (?), n.; pl. E.
Incubuses (#), L. Incubi (#).
[L., the nightmare. Cf. Incubate.]
1. A demon; a fiend; a lascivious spirit,
supposed to have sexual intercourse with women by night.
Tylor.
The devils who appeared in the female form were
generally called succubi; those who appeared like men incubi,
though this distinction was not always preserved.
Lecky.
2. (Med.) The nightmare. See
Nightmare.
Such as are troubled with incubus, or witch-
ridden, as we call it.
Burton.
3. Any oppressive encumbrance or burden;
anything that prevents the free use of the faculties.
Debt and usury is the incubus which weighs most
heavily on the agricultural resources of Turkey.
J.
L. Farley.