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.)
1387. Trevisa, 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.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, cxix. (1870), 78. Incubus doth infeste and trouble women, and Succubus doth infest men.
1584. R. 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.
1644. Merc. Brit., No. 23. 178. I think Incubusses and Succubusses are Angells of light to these.
1647. Cowley, Mistr., Not Fair, 14. So men (they say) by Hells delusions led, Have ta’ne a Succu’bus to their bed.
1691. R. Kirk, Secret Commw., i. (1815), 13. For the Inconvenience of their Succubi, who tryst with Men, it is abhominable.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 52/2. The truth is, the succubus is only a species of the nightmare.
1818. C. 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.
attrib. 1619. Purchas, Microcosmus, l. 479. If the Deuill cannot 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.
1601. Weever, Mirr. Mart., A vij. A swaggering humour, Of some shape-altring Succubus begot.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 169. An old Tartarian Hecate … inuocated her Succubi to succour mee.
1727. Warburton, Enq. Prod., I. 63. A Churchyard Carcass raised and set a strutting by the Inflation of some hellish Succubus within.
1840. Barham, 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.
1868. Browning, 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.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Whore, Wks. (1630), II. 106/1. A Succubus, a damned sinke of sinne.
1684. Otway, Atheist, I. Nor got no meat, but such as the old Succubus his wife bought at a stinking price.
1699. Farquhar, Constant Couple, IV. iii. Here is an old succubus, madam, that has stole two silver spoons, and says she’s your nurse.
1706. T. Baker, Tunbridge Walks, IV. i. A flinching son of a succubus, to pretend to call for a looking glass and sneak away.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., xlvi. ‘Yes, thou barbarian,’ said she, turning to Wagtail, ‘thou tiger, thou succubus!’
1803. C. 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.
