mara
Mara (noun) means In Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a demon or spirit believed to sit on a sleeper's chest and cause nightmares. Example: “Old Norse legend blamed nightmares on the mara pressing down on the sleeper.”
How to use mara
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the folkloric nightmare-demon, or the Patagonian rodent that shares its name.
Word forms
maras plural, maras plural, maras plural, maras plural, Maras plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Old Norse legend blamed nightmares on the _____ pressing down on the sleeper.
Etymology
From Old Norse mara — the same root that gives English "nightmare," since a "night-mare" was originally this very demon, not a horse.
Rhymes for mara
See all rhymes for mara →Frequently asked questions
What does “mara” mean?
The word “mara” means in Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a demon or spirit believed to sit on a sleeper's chest and cause nightmares. In plain terms, either the folkloric nightmare-demon, or the Patagonian rodent that shares its name.
How do you pronounce “mara”?
“Mara” is pronounced MAH-ruh (/ˈmɑːɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “mara” in a sentence?
Here is “mara” used in a sentence: “Old Norse legend blamed nightmares on the mara pressing down on the sleeper.”
What part of speech is “mara”?
“Mara” is a noun.
Where does the word “mara” come from?
The word “mara” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse mara — the same root that gives English "nightmare," since a "night-mare" was originally this very demon, not a horse.
Is “mara” a common word?
“Mara” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mara” have?
“Mara” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a demon or spirit believed to sit on a sleeper's chest and cause nightmares.
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