'incubation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'incubatio,' where 'in-' meant 'in' and 'cubare' meant 'to lie down.'

'incubatio' transformed into the French word 'incubation,' and eventually became the modern English word 'incubation' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to lie down on eggs to hatch them,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the process of developing under controlled conditions.'