Văm'pīre, n.

n. [Fr. vampire, Sp. & It. vampiro, Ger. & D. vampir, Serb. wampir, wampira, wukódlak, Wallachian murony, Mod. Gr. βρουκόλακας, βρικόλακας, βουρκόλακας, βουρβούλακας, βουρδούλακας, Ar. & Turk. massâcet.] [Written also vampyre.]

1Sense 1. A dead person superstitiously believed to return in body and soul from the other world, and to wander about the earth doing every kind of mischief to the living, and to suck the blood of persons asleep, thus causing their death. This superstition is chiefly prevalent in some parts of Eastern Europe, and especially in Hungary.

☞ “It may be supposed that the superstition about the vampire has derived considerable strength from cases where men supposed to be dead have been buried alive. Such cases have happened in many countries, as has been shown by the altered position of the body in the coffin, spots of blood on the torn winding-sheets, bites on the hands, and other marks of the struggle and despair before life became extinct. It is probable that such signs have been sometimes interpreted as the marks of vampirism.” Eng. Cyc.

2Sense 2. Hence, one who lives by preying on others; an extortioner.

3Sense 3. (Zoöl.) A large species of bat found in tropical America, especially Vampirus spectrum. Its expanded wings measure from two to three feet across. This bat has been fabulously reported to cause the death of men and brute animals by sucking their blood.