incubation (n.)

1610s, "a brooding," from Latin incubationem (nominative incubatio) "a laying upon eggs," noun of action from past participle stem of incubare "to hatch," literally "to lie on, rest on," from in- "on" (from PIE root *en "in") + cubare "to lie" (see cubicle). The literal sense of "sitting on eggs to hatch them" in English is first recorded 1640s.

Entries linking to incubation

*en

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "in."

It forms all or part of: and; atoll; dysentery; embargo; embarrass; embryo; empire; employ; en- (1) "in; into;" en- (2) "near, at, in, on, within;" enclave; endo-; enema; engine; enoptomancy; enter; enteric; enteritis; entero-; entice; ento-; entrails; envoy; envy; episode; esoteric; imbroglio; immolate; immure; impede; impend; impetus; important; impostor; impresario; impromptu; in; in- (2) "into, in, on, upon;" inchoate; incite; increase; inculcate; incumbent; industry; indigence; inflict; ingenuous; ingest; inly; inmost; inn; innate; inner; innuendo; inoculate; insignia; instant; intaglio; inter-; interim; interior; intern; internal; intestine; intimate (adj.) "closely acquainted, very familiar;" intra-; intricate; intrinsic; intro-; introduce; introduction; introit; introspect; invert; mesentery.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit antara- "interior;" Greek en "in," eis "into," endon "within;" Latin in "in, into," intro "inward," intra "inside, within;" Old Irish in, Welsh yn, Old Church Slavonic on-, Old English in "in, into," inne "within, inside."

cubicle (n.)

mid-15c., "bedroom, bedchamber," from Latin cubiculum "bedroom," from cubare "to lie down," which is perhaps from a PIE *kub-, with cognates in Middle Welsh kyscu, Middle Cornish koska, Middle Breton cousquet "to sleep," but de Vaan regards the PIE origin of the Latin word as "uncertain." Compare cubit.

Obsolete from 16c. but revived by 1858 for "dormitory sleeping compartment," especially in an English public school. The sense of "any partitioned space" (such as a library carrel or, later, office work station) is attested by 1926. Related: Cubicular.

incubate (v.)

1640s (transitive), "to brood upon, watch jealously" (figurative); 1721 in literal sense "to sit on (eggs) to hatch them," from Latin incubatus, past participle of incubare "to lie in or upon," also in the figurative sense "brood" (see incubation). Intransitive sense "to sit upon eggs" is from 1755. Related: Incubated; incubating.

Others are reading

Share incubation

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/incubation

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/incubation">Etymology of incubation by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of incubation. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/incubation

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of incubation,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/incubation.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of incubation.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/incubation. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of incubation.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/incubation (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of incubation

incubation (n.)

maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development;

incubation (n.)

(pathology) the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear;

incubation (n.)

sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body;

Synonyms: brooding

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near incubation

incrimination

incriminatory

incroyable

incrustation

incubate

incubation

incubator

incubus

inculcate

inculcation

inculpable