Wednesday, April 10, 2013

A to Z Challenge 2013: I - Incubus

Incubus

in·cu·bus n. an evil spirit supposed to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep.

Synonyms: daemon, daimon, demon, devil, fiend

Etymology: c.1200, from Late Latin (Augustine), from Latin incubo "nightmare, one who lies down on (the sleeper)," from incubare "to lie upon" (see incubate). Plural is incubi. In the Middle Ages their existence was recognized by law.

Like Eurythmics, also a band.

39 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Great word for I, though I definitely never want to encounter one of those nasty creatures.

Jeremy [Retro] said...

that is a great word, should break it down... into parts to see how it was made.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Whoot!! Now this one I know. Hee...

Elise Fallson said...

Excellent I word. I'm going to suggest this one to Nick for his AZ writing challenge. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Isn't a succubus the female version?

A Daft Scots Lass said...

I may or may not have had an incubus experience once or twice.

Unknown said...

It is so funny you should use that word! My sister wanted me to use that as the title for my book, but I was like.. Um.. No.

Stina said...

Ewwwww. I've heard the name before and I knew they had something to do with vampires and sex, but I really had no idea what they were.

S. L. Hennessy said...

I've always loved that word...and the mythological creature attached to it. Creeptastic.

Pam Kingsley said...

I'm really enjoying your posts. I love the etymology of words and your choices are really interesting.

farawayeyes said...

OK, this one is creepy, but a fun word to say. Now I have to go and look up that succubus word to see if Alex is right.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Ha! Now when my husband calls me a sucubus, I have a retort!

Tina said...

A bit creeped out, but still, vocab is good. I did know this one. So are you going to continue with bands and vocab? That's pretty cool...

Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge

Nancy Thompson said...

Is it weird I first learned this word on a soap opera? Or maybe that was succubus.

Sarah Ahiers said...

I love Incubus the band. True Story

Donna K. Weaver said...

I've got a crit partner who's working with this work but giving it a different meaning. Love his premise.

Cassie Mae said...

Incubus(es?) would probably make me pee myself. I'm sure they wouldn't descend on my lady parts again.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

For some reason...when I read this I had a picture of Uma Thurman lying on the medical bed in the movie "Kill Bill."

Beatrice Kiddo...boy did she ever get revenge on that "incubi" that tried to screw her.

Bevimus said...

One of my favorite fantastical creatures.

cleemckenzie said...

This name always spooked me!

Andrew Leon said...

I have to say I like the sucubus better.
:P

Kathleen Jennette said...

The word always creeps me out when I watch movies and read books with it in.

KaTy Did at: Life's Ride As I See It

Sandy said...

ewwwwwwwww and ick, and ewwwwwwwwwww

A-Z

mooderino said...

Only with women? i did not know that.

mood
Moody Writing

Susan Kane said...

Incubus? Same word source as 'incubate'?

Clare said...

It's cool we both have Incubus as our letter I today. Great post, really informative. :D

Unknown said...

Wow, sounds like a wicked guy.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Eurythmics and Incubus are the same?

M Pax said...

Annie Lennox was so fab. I have a few Incubus songs on my playlist, too.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Incubus are definitely the kind of creatures I'd rather not meet.

Li said...

I've seen the word but never knew exactly what it meant. Thanks for the info!

The Armchair Squid said...

Fun post! What a fantastic word to know.

Kristen said...

It's also a band. I don't think I want to meet that band in person. :O)

#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Sounds like some of the drunkards I went to college with:)
WriterlySam

Kate Larkindale said...

I've always liked the way the word incubus sounds. It kind of rolls off your tongue. Unfortunately there's not a lot of ways to use it in everyday conversation....

Rhonda Albom said...

I had heard the word, but not the definition. Hmmm, how does this happen without awakening her? (rhetorical)

Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
Visiting from AtoZ #41

Rick Daley said...

I knew this band was real word...

Dani said...

Very good word! I don't like how it slithers into a woman's bed though. I Shutter!
Dani @ Entertaining Interests
#warriorminion

Lyre said...

I'd forgotten that Middle Ages law recognized its existence, but then thinking about it, of course. With documents like the Malleus Maleficarum, of course law would recognize it's existence. It's amazing the lengths to which society will go at times to justify behaviors and attitudes.

Lyre at Lyre's Musings