NIGHTMARE

nightmare |ˈnītˌme(ə)r| noun a frightening or unpleasant dream : I had nightmares after watching the horror movie. • a terrifying or very unpleasant experience or prospect : the nightmare of racial hatred | an astronaut's worst nightmare is getting detached during an extravehicle activity. • a person, thing, or situation that is very difficult to deal with : buying wine can be a nightmare if you don't know enough about it. DERIVATIVES nightmarish adjective nightmarishly adverb ORIGIN Middle English (denoting a female evil spirit thought to lie upon and suffocate sleepers): from night + Old English mære [incubus.]