Vampire

An extortioner. According to Dom Calmet, the vampire is a dead man who returns in body and soul from the other world, and wanders about the earth doing mischief to the living. He sucks the blood of persons asleep, and these persons become vampires in turn.

The vampire lies as a corpse during the day, but by night, especially at full moon, wanders about. Sir W. Scott, in his Rokeby (part iii. chap. ii. s. 3) alludes to the superstition, and Lord Byron in his Giaour says,

“But first on earth, as vampire sent,

Thy corse shall from the tomb be rent,

Then ghastly haunt thy native place

And suck the blood of all thy race.”

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

Vampire

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