sibilate

American  

[sib-uh-layt] / 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

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Etymology

Origin of sibilate

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin sībilātus (past participle of sībilāre “to hiss”); see origin at sibilant, -ate ¹

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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

See Examples For:

sibilate sibilated sibilating

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

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 Ruth Russell

"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 Burt L. Standish

Dozia sibilated, pointing to Judith who had actually turned over.

From Jane Allen, Junior by Edith Bancroft

"Tom," was the word whispered, "Steele" was the sibilated response.

From Burlesques by William Makepeace Thackeray

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 John Augustus O'Shea

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

Mr. Sterne's final rapid winking remained buried in the deep darkness sibilating with his whispers.

From The End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad

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 Seabury Quinn

And there he sits, meditating over Carlyle’s crepitating fire and Rousseau’s writhing, sibilating flame.

From The Book of Khalid by Ameen Fares Rihani

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