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noun

succubus

SUHK-yuu-buhs

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

Word forms

succubi plural, succubuses plural

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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

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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.

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