Ephialtes

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Ephˊi-al′tes

,

Noun.

[NL., fr. Gr. [GREEK], lit., one who leaps upon.]

The nightmare.

Brande & C.

,

Noun.

[Gr.] The night-mar.

See also: ephialtes and Éphialtès

Ephialtes

either the ancient Greek statesman or a mythological Giant

See also: Ephialtes and Éphialtès

ephialtes ‎(plural ephialtes)

(obsolete) an incubus; a nightmare
- 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book III, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 112:
  "Those that were asleep it [a spirit] terrified with horrible visions; those that were waking it would strike, pull, or press, lying heavy upon them like an Ephialtes: so that there were perpetuall complaints every morning of their last nights rest through the whole Town."