incubation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Sleeping in a temple or other holy place in order to have oracular dreams or to receive healing.

   Incubation in the vicinity of burial places, cremation grounds, holy wells and sacred streams was common. The ancient Hebrews visited vaults or slept among tombs to get meaningful dreams.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Incubation entered English in the early 17th century and is ultimately based on Latin cubare, “to lie down.” It therefore shares its underlying root with cubicle.

From Latin incubātiō, from incubō (“to lie on”).

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary