noun
Uncommon
mara
MAH-ruh
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.”
noun
1
In Germanic and Scandinavian folklore, a demon or spirit believed to sit on a sleeper's chest and cause nightmares.
"Old Norse legend blamed nightmares on the mara pressing down on the sleeper."
2
A long-legged rodent native to the grasslands of Argentina, related to the guinea pig.
"The mara looks like a cross between a rabbit and a small deer."
How to use mara
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the folkloric nightmare-demon, or the Patagonian rodent that shares its name.
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Word forms
- Plural
- maras
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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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