empusa

== English == === Alternative forms === empousa, empuse === Etymology === Ancient Greek Ἔμπουσα (Émpousa) === Noun === empusa (plural empusas or empusae) (Greek mythology) In Ancient Greek mythology, a kind of spectre sent by Hecate to guard roads and devour travellers. 1858, "Empūsa", entry in William Smith, A Classical Dictionary of Biography, Mythology, and Geography, John Murray, page 240, The Lamiae and Mormolyceia, who assumed the form of handsome women for the purpose of attracting young men, and then sucked their blood like vampyrs and ate their flesh, were reckoned among the Empusae. ==== Translations ==== === See also === lamia mormo === Anagrams === pumsae