incubus

incubus
[ˈɪŋkjʊbəs]
(pl. incubi -bʌɪ)
  1. a male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women
    阴库巴斯恶魔,梦淫妖(传说与熟睡女性发生性交)
    ■(figurative)a cause of distress or anxiety
    (喻)贫困的原因;焦虑的原因
    debt is a big incubus in developing countries.
    债务是发展中国家贫困的一大原因。
    ■(archaic)a nightmare
    (古)梦魇,恶梦
语源
  1. Middle English: late Latin form of Latin incubo 'nightmare', from incubare 'lie on' (see incubate)
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