1. A sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on,
or keeping warm, (eggs) to develop the life within, by any process.
Ray.
2. (Med.) The development of a disease from its causes, or its period
of incubation. (See below.)
3. A sleeping in a consecrated place for the purpose of dreaming
oracular dreams. Tylor.
Period of incubation, or Stage of incubation (Med.), the period which
elapses between exposure to the causes of a disease and the attack
resulting from it; the time of development of the supposed germs or
spores.
In"cu*ba*tive (?), a. Of or pertaining to incubation, or to the period
of incubation.
In"cu*ba`tor (?), n. That which incubates, especially, an apparatus by
means of which eggs are hatched by artificial heat.
In*cu"ba*to*ry (?), a. Serving for incubation.
In*cube" (?), v. t. To fix firmly, as in cube; to secure or place
firmly. [Obs.] Milton.
In*cu"bi*ture (?; 135), n. [Cf. L. incubitus.] Incubation. [Obs.] J.
Ellis.
In"cu*bous (?), a. [From L. incubare to lie on.] (Bot.) Having the
leaves so placed that the upper part of each one covers the base of the
leaf next above it, as in hepatic mosses of the genus Frullania. See
Succubous.
In"cu*bus (?), n.; pl. E. Incubuses (#), L. Incubi (#). [L., the
nightmare. Cf. Incubate.]
1. A demon; a fiend; a lascivious spirit, supposed to have sexual
intercourse with women by night. Tylor.
The devils who appeared in the female form were generally called
succubi; those who appeared like men incubi, though this
distinction was not always preserved.
Lecky.