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.