sibilus Latin · revision 34551

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=220–130 BC, Pacuvius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈsiː.bɪ.ɫʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈsiː.bi.lus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sībilus''' ''m'' (genitive sībilī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an onomatopoeic word.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan notes that the verb [[m|la|sībilō|t=to hiss]] is recorded earlier than the noun, and takes the word to imitate a sound /siːb/, or /siː/ with a suffix.^(de Vaan 2008) The OLD compares [[grc|σίζω|tr=sízō]] and [[m|grc|ψίθυρος|tr=psíthuros]].^(OLD 2012) Köbler connects it with [[ine-pro|*su̯ei-|t=to hiss, whistle]],^(Köbler 2010)^(Pokorny 1959) and Wiktionary reports a derivation by Gamkrelidze and Ivanov from [[m|ine-pro|*sweysd-|t=to hiss]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Pacuvius on,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) of the whistling of the ships' ropes, ''rudentum sibilus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was any hissing or whistling sound: of snakes and other animals, of the wind and of things, and of a shepherd's pipe.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Livy has a whistle used as a signal, and Columella cattle called by whistling.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Cicero uses it for the hissing of an audience: a man driven off the stage by hisses and abuse, and the taunt ''sibilum metuis?'' “are you afraid of being hissed?”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) The poets use the neuter plural ''sibila'' for metrical reasons.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Medieval writers in Britain use it of the hiss of a serpent, and of a person's whisper or whistle and the whispering of the breeze.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius writes of the whistling of the ropes.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of hissing in the theatre.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil writes of the whistling of the south wind.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy has a whistle given as a signal.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|hissing|alt=hiss]], [[m|en|whistle]] or similar sound, of snakes and other animals, of the wind, and of things.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # A whistle given as a signal.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+ # A hiss of contempt or disapproval, especially from an audience.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|whisper]].^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sībilō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A rare ablative ''sibilu'' occurs in Sisenna and a neuter singular ''sibilum'' in Celsus.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) There is also an adjective ''sībilus'' “hissing”, found only in the neuter plural ''sibila'' (of snakes' necks in Virgil), which the OLD and Georges list as a separate word.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}