lemures
noun/ˈlɛmjəriːz/
Etymology From Latin lemurēs. See lemur.
1
Human sciences, Mysticism, Mythology, Philosophy, Sciences Roman The spirits or ghosts of the dead, considered as malignant.
- The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint.1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
- So still lay the figure, and so dim was its outline, that any other than Arbaces might have felt a superstitious fear, lest he beheld one of those grim lemures, who, above all other spots, haunted the threshold of the homes they formerly possessed.1834, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter VII, in The Last Days of Pompeii. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […]; successor to Henry Colburn, →OCLC, book IV, page 13:
- Related terms
- lemur, Lemuria