Sibyl

See also: sibyl

English

Alternative forms

• Sybil, Sybill
• Cybil, Cybill (rare)

Etymology

Latin Sibylla, Ancient Greek Σίβυλλα (Síbulla, “sibyl”), name of ancient Greek prophetesses.

Proper noun

Sibyl

1. A female given name from Ancient Greek.
   • c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:
     , Scene II:

     Be she as foul as Florentius' love, / As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd / As Socrates' Xanthippe, or worse, / She moves me not.

2. Alternative letter-case form of sibyl

Usage notes

• Used as a name since the Middle Ages. Since the 19th century usually spelled Sybil.

Translations

female given name

• Armenian:

  Middle Armenian: Սիպիլ (Sipil)

• Czech: Sibyla
• Estonian: Pille
• German: Sibylle
• Old Armenian: Սիբիլլա (Sibilla), Սիբիղղա (Sibiłła)
• Swedish: Sibylla (sv)

Anagrams

• Sybil