-bəs noun
( plural incu·bi -ˌbī ; also incubuses )
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin incubare to lie upon, hatch
1. : an evil spirit believed to lie upon persons in their sleep and especially to have sexual intercourse with women by night — compare succubus
2. : nightmare 2
3. : a person or thing that oppresses or burdens like a nightmare
the security council — free for once from the incubus of the veto — was able to act swiftly and decisively — C.P.Romulo