| 释义 |
Sibylline, a. and n.|ˈsɪbɪlaɪn|
Also 8–9 Sybil(l)ine, 9 Sibyline; and with lower-case initial.
[ad. L. Sibyllīn-us, f. Sibylla Sibyl. Cf. F. sibyllin, † sibillin.]
A. adj.
1. Pertaining to, uttered or written by, one or more of the Sibyls.
In this sense usually with a capital, and qualifying books or oracles: on the nature of these see Encycl. Brit. XXII. 13.
1579–80North Plutarch, J. Cæsar (1612) 738 That it was written in the Sybilline prophecies, how the Romaines might ouercome the Parthians. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. 282 Concluding the whole business of the Sibylline Oracles..to have been a mere Cheat and Figment; and that there never was any thing in those Sibylline Books [etc.]. 1725tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. 17th C. I. 21 The Fathers are to be excused for citing the Sybilline verses as true. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. xi. I. 361 The Sibylline books enjoined ceremonies of a more harmless nature. 1841Penny Cycl. XXI. 477/1 It may be that at this time a number of Sibylline oracles were forged and circulated. 1882Farrar Early Chr. II. 219 It had probably originated from the expectations of Jews and Christians, and is found again and again in the Sibylline books.
2. Oracular, occult, mysterious.
1817Coleridge (title), Sibylline Leaves; a Collection of Poems. 1834H. Miller Scenes & Leg. i. (1857) 3 The Sibyline tomes of tradition are disappearing in this part of the country. 1852A. Jameson Leg. Madonna (1857) 42 Looking out, with..her slightly dilated, sybilline eyes, quite through the universe. 1888R. Garnett Emerson i. 21 Her habitual mode of expressing herself was abrupt and sibylline.
Comb.1834H. Miller Scenes & Leg. x. (1857) 152 Here are a few sybilline-like leaves, the sole records, of his common everyday affairs.
3. Excessive, exorbitant.
In allusion to the Sibyl who sold three books to Tarquinius Superbus at the price of the original nine.
1859Helps Friends in C. Ser. ii. Introd. 11 My terms are Sybilline. 1876Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. 224 To set a Sibylline value on their verses in proportion as they were unsalable.
4. Resembling a Sibyl.
1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. v. iv, See Camille Desmoulins..rushing out, sibylline in face; his hair streaming. 1861Pearson Early & Mid. Ages Eng. ii. 14 Suetonius Paulinus penetrated to the sacred island of Mona, exterminated the priests and white-robed Sibylline women who thronged the shores.
B. n. In pl., the Sibylline oracles or books.
1875Encycl. Brit. II. 177/2 It was still the main object of the sibyllines to combat heathenism itself. 1895Salmond Doctr. Immortality iv. i. 411 These Sibyllines have come down to us only in the most confused and uncertain form. |