sibylline

[ sib-uh-leen, -lahyn, -lin ]

adjective

1. of, resembling, or characteristic of a sibyl; prophetic; oracular.
2. mysterious; cryptic.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sibylline¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin Sibyllīnus “pertaining to a sibyl”; sibyl, -ine ¹

Example Sentences

It is reported that a woman called Amalthæa, from a foreign country, came to Tarquin the Proud to sell nine sibylline books.

From Project Gutenberg

The door opened, and Frulein's head appeared, solemn and sibylline, with tears shining behind her spectacles.

From Project Gutenberg

The sibylline volume of man's history is open before us, and every page of it is written in blood or tears.

From Project Gutenberg

Time is like the Sibylline leaves, getting more precious the less there remains of it.

From Project Gutenberg

The thoughts of these men are like the Sibylline leaves, profound but lost.

From Project Gutenberg