sibilate

American  

[sib-uh-leyt] / ˈsɪb əˌleɪt /

verb (used without object)

sibilated, sibilating

1. to hiss.

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verb (used with object)

sibilated, sibilating

1. to utter or pronounce with a hissing sound.

sibilate British  

/ ˈsɪbɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. to pronounce or utter (words or speech) with a hissing sound

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Other Word Forms

• sibilation noun
• sibilator noun

Etymology

Origin of sibilate

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin sībilātus (past participle of sībilāre “to hiss”); 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

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