English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

succubus

SUHK-yuu-buhs
Quiz me More like this

Succubus (noun) means In folklore, a female demon believed to seduce men in their sleep. Example: “The medieval woodcut depicted a succubus hovering over a sleeping monk.”

noun
1
In folklore, a female demon believed to seduce men in their sleep.
"The medieval woodcut depicted a succubus hovering over a sleeping monk."

How to use succubus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA legendary female demon said to visit and seduce men in dreams.

Common mistake

A succubus is female; its male counterpart in folklore is the incubus.

Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like succubus.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
succubi, succubuses
Test yourself on “succubus” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The medieval woodcut depicted a _____ hovering over a sleeping monk.

Etymology

From Late Latin succuba ("mythical female fiend"), from Latin succubare ("to lie under"), from sub- ("under") plus cubare ("to lie down"); shaped in Middle English to match incubus.

Origin: Late Latin

Related words

Rhymes for succubus

See all rhymes for succubus →

Frequently asked questions

What does “succubus” mean?
The word “succubus” means in folklore, a female demon believed to seduce men in their sleep. In plain terms, a legendary female demon said to visit and seduce men in dreams.
How do you pronounce “succubus”?
“Succubus” is pronounced SUHK-yuu-buhs (/ˈsʌk.jʊ.bəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “succubus” in a sentence?
Here is “succubus” used in a sentence: “The medieval woodcut depicted a succubus hovering over a sleeping monk.”
What part of speech is “succubus”?
“Succubus” is a noun.
Where does the word “succubus” come from?
The word “succubus” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin succuba ("mythical female fiend"), from Latin succubare ("to lie under"), from sub- ("under") plus cubare ("to lie down"); shaped in Middle English to match incubus.

People also searched