Frightening dreams that cause feelings of terror, anxiety, or distress, often waking the sleeper. Also used metaphorically to describe extremely unpleasant experiences or situations.
From Middle English 'nyghtemare,' literally 'night demon,' where 'mare' comes from Old English 'mære' (goblin, demon). Originally described a malevolent spirit believed to sit on sleepers' chests, causing bad dreams and breathing difficulties.
The 'mare' in nightmare isn't a female horse but an ancient Germanic demon that supposedly crept into bedrooms to torment sleepers! This supernatural explanation for sleep paralysis and bad dreams reveals how our ancestors tried to make sense of terrifying nocturnal experiences.
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