mara

English

/ˈmɑːɹə/

noun

Definitions

(folklore) A nightmare; a spectre or wraith-like creature in Germanic and particularly Scandinavian folklore; a female demon who torments people in sleep by crouching on their chests or stomachs, or by causing terrifying visions.

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Norse mara derived from Proto-Germanic *marǭ (nightmare, incubus).

Origin

Proto-Germanic

*marǭ

Gloss

nightmare, incubus

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

*mer- Proto-Indo-European
*mor- Proto-Indo-European
mare Norwegian Bokmål
*marǭ Proto-Germanic
mara Swedish
mare Norwegian Nynorsk
mare Old English
mara Old Norse
mare Danish
mare Middle Dutch
mara Old High German