Nightmare Definition
nītmâr
nightmares
noun
nightmares
A frightening dream, often accompanied by a sensation of oppression and helplessness.
Webster's New World
An evil spirit believed to haunt and suffocate sleeping people.
Webster's New World
Any experience like a nightmare in its terrifying or distressing aspects.
Webster's New World
A very bad or frightening dream.
I had a nightmare that I tried to run but could neither move nor breathe.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Other Word Forms of Nightmare
Noun
Singular:
nightmare
Plural:
nightmaresOrigin of Nightmare
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From Middle English nightemare, niȝtmare, equivalent to night +"Ž mare (“evil spirit believed to afflict a sleeping person"). Cognate with Scots nichtmare, nichtmeer (“nightmare"), Dutch nachtmerrie (“nightmare"), Middle Low German nachtmār (“nightmare"), German Nachtmahr (“nightmare").
From Wiktionary
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Middle English a female demon that afflicts sleeping people night night night mare goblin (from Old English mer- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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