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sib·yl

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l] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	any of certain women of antiquity reputed to possess powers of prophecy or divination.

2.	a female prophet or witch.

[Origin: 1250–1300; < Gk Síbylla Sibylla; r. ME Sibil < ML Sibilla < Gk, as above

]

—Synonyms seer, prophetess, oracle, soothsayer.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Sibyl

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Sib·yl

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l] Pronunciation Key

–noun

a female given name.

Also, Sibylle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

sib·yl Audio Help (sĭb'əl) Pronunciation Key
n.

One of a number of women regarded as oracles or prophets by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
A woman prophet.

[Middle English sibile, from Old French, from Latin Sibylla, from Greek Sibulla.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
sibyl

c.1300, from O.Fr. sibile, from L. Sibylla, from Gk. Sibylla, name for any of several prophetesses consulted by ancient Greeks and Romans, of uncertain origin. Said to be from Doric Siobolla, from Attic Theoboule "divine wish."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

sibyl
noun
1.	a woman who tells fortunes
2.	(ancient Rome) a woman who was regarded as an oracle or prophet

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Sibyl

Sib"yl\, n. [L. sibylla, Gr. ????.]

1. (Class. Antiq.) A woman supposed to be endowed with a spirit of prophecy.

Note: The number of the sibyls is variously stated by different authors; but the opinion of Varro, that there were ten, is generally adopted. They dwelt in various parts of Persia, Greece, and Italy.

2. A female fortune teller; a pythoness; a prophetess. "An old highland sibyl." --Sir W. Scott.

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