| 释义 |
ephialtes|ɛfɪˈæltiːz|
[a. Gr. ἐϕιάλτης.
Usually believed to be agent-n. f. *ἐϕιάλλεσθαι, var. of ἐϕάλλεσθαι to leap upon, f. ἐπί on + ἄλλεσθαι to leap. But the phonological difficulties are considerable (cf., however, ἐϕίορκος = ἐπίορκος, f. ἐπί + ὅρκος); and the synonymous ἠπιαλής, ἐϕέλης, etc. suggest that the word may have been affected by popular etymology.]
A demon supposed to cause nightmare; nightmare itself.
1601Holland Pliny II. 214 The diseases called Ephialtes or Incubus, i.e. the night-Mare. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. v. xxi. §21. 272 To prevent the Ephialtes or night-Mare we hang up an hallow stone in our stables. 1656Culpepper Eng. Physic. 296 Such as in their sleep are troubled with the Disease called Ephialtes or Incubus. 1777Brand Pop. Antiq. 324 Ephialtes, or Night Mare is called by Common People Witch-riding. |