sibilate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sibilate
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin sībilātus (past participle of sībilāre “to hiss”); see origin at sibilant, -ate 1
Explanation
When an audience is so angry or disapproving that they make a hissing sound, they sibilate. Little kids who are missing their front teeth often sibilate too. You sibilate to some degree every time you pronounce the letter s — the hissing sound itself is called sibilance, or described as sibilant. When your friend tries to catch your attention in the library by saying, "Psst!" she sibilates. And the librarian sibilates too, when he angrily shushes her with a loud "Shhh!" Sibilate comes from the Latin sibilare, "to hiss or whistle."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Chuck Coggins, Sam Shelton, Louis Delucca: obviously, there was some connection between a sibilate s and a complete lack of interest in the State versus Carolina issue.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
"Do you think it's worth while?" sibilated Miss Miranda in answer.
From Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith
"Answer me!" sibilated the stranger, his brows darkening beneath the wide brim of the hat, and a gleam of fire showing in his eyes.
From Frank Merriwell's Chums by Standish, Burt L.
For the question that sibilated in Grafton street cafes and at the tram change at Nelson pillar was: "Will Dublin Castle permit?"
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Russell, Ruth
No papers were asked for either at the Customs' station, some hundred yards farther on; but the Carabineros looked upon me as a lunatic, and significantly sibilated.
From Romantic Spain A Record of Personal Experiences (Vol. II) by O'Shea, John Augustus
Dozia sibilated, pointing to Judith who had actually turned over.
From Jane Allen, Junior by Bancroft, Edith
And when I walk amid the foliage of these autumn days, it begins to quarrel with an excitable sibilating duck: “It’s rabbit season!”
From New York Times ● Oct. 8, 2010
Its voice is a harsh, grating hiss; it makes the noise when alarmed or when disturbed by passing canoes, all the individuals sibilating as they fly heavily away from tree to tree.
From The Naturalist on the River Amazons by Bates, Henry Walter
Mr. Sterne's final rapid winking remained buried in the deep darkness sibilating with his whispers.
From The End of the Tether by Conrad, Joseph
The theatre was crowded in every part: expectation was on tiptoe: anticipation as to his person, voice, and manner, was announced by the sibilating "I guess" heard around, and "pretty considerable" agitation prevailed.
From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 268, August 11, 1827 by Various
A sibilating hiss, no louder than the noise made by steam escaping from a kettle-spout, sounded close beside my foot.
From Pledged to the Dead by Quinn, Seabury
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
