n.
Pronunciation: ' n ī t- ˌ mer
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from 1 night + 1 mare
Date: 14th century
1 : an evil spirit formerly thought to oppress people during sleep
2 : a frightening dream that usually awakens the sleeper
3 : something (as an experience, situation, or object) having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror
– nightmare adjective
– night · mar · ish \ - ˌ mer-ish \ adjective
– night · mar · ish · ly adverb