释义 |
succubus|ˈsʌkjʊbəs| Pl. -bi (7–8 -busses). [med.L., masc. form (with fem. meaning) corresp. to succuba, after incubus.] 1. A demon in female form supposed to have carnal intercourse with men in their sleep. (Cf. incubus.)
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 419 That fend þat gooþ a nyȝt, Wommen wel ofte to begile, Incubus hatte be ryȝt; And gileþ men oþer while, Succubus is þat wight. 1547Boorde Brev. Health cxix. (1870) 78 Incubus doth infeste and trouble women, and Succubus doth infest men. 1584R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. iii. xix. (1886) 56 The divell plaieth Succubus to the man and carrieth from him the seed of generation, which he delivereth as Incubus to the woman. 1644Merc. Brit. No. 23. 178, I think Incubusses and Sucubusses are Angells of light to these. 1647Cowley Mistr., Not Fair 14 So men (they say) by Hells delusions led, Have ta'ne a Succu'bus to their bed. 1691R. Kirk Secret Commw. i. (1815) 13 For the Inconvenience of their Succubi, who tryst with Men, it is abhominable. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVIII. 52/2 The truth is, the succubus is only a species of the nightmare. 1818C. K. Sharpe Law's Memorialls Pref. p. xx, For forty years, he [sc. Benedict of Berne] had kept up an amatory commerce with a Succubus, called Hermeline. 1950A. Clarke Coll. Plays (1963) 315 Branduv is sleeping with a succubus. 1958L. Durrell Balthazar vii. 167 Thirst can be quenched like this, by inviting a succubus to one's bed. 1969J. Upton tr. R. Diaz Sánchez's Cumboto 261 The dream reoccurred many times, it was the work of a clever succubus who came to my cot regularly to conduct her oneiric concert. 1977A. Carter Passion of New Eve ii. 27, I would..remember the myth of the succubus, the devils in female form who come by night to seduce the saints. attrib.1619Purchas Microcosmus l. 479 If the Deuill can⁓not turne himselfe into a Succubus Spirit, to be, or seeme to be a transubstantiate Woman. 2. transf. a. A demon, evil spirit; occas. a familiar spirit.
1601Weever Mirr. Mart. A vij, A swaggering humour, Of some shape-altring Succubus begot. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 169 An old Tartarian Hecate..inuocated her Succubi to succour mee. 1727Warburton Enq. Prod. i. 63 A Church⁓yard Carcass raised and set a strutting by the Inflation of some hellish Succubus within. 1840Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Lady Rohesia, The most impudent Succubus..dare as well dip his claws in holy water as come within the verge of its [sc. the passing bell's] sound. 1868Browning Ring & Bk., Ct. Guido Franc. 1137 The witches' circle intact, charms undisturbed That raised the spirit and succubus. b. A strumpet, whore; a term of abuse for a low woman, occas. applied to a man.
1622J. Taylor (Water P.) Whore Wks. (1630) ii. 106/1 A Succubus, a damned sinke of sinne. 1684Otway Atheist 1, Nor got no meat, but such as the old Succubus his wife bought at a stinking price. 1699Farquhar Const. Couple iv. iii, Here is an old succubus, madam, that has stole two silver spoons, and says she's your nurse. 1706T. Baker Turnbridge Walks iv. i, A flinching son of a succubus, to pretend to call for a looking glass and sneak away. 1748Smollett Rod. Rand. xlvi, ‘Yes, thou barbarian,’ said she, turning to Wagtail, ‘thou tiger, thou succubus!’ 1803C. K. Sharpe New Oxf. Guide i. Corr. 1888 I. 13 [A bed⁓maker] Like any fell Succubus, wrinkled and old, With the lip of a shrew, and the nose of a scold. |