Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SIBYLLINE

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connect today's word to others: You're probably familiar with Cassandra from Greek mythology: the one who could accurately predict the future, but whenever she did, no one believed her. Today we can use the word Cassandra as a noun or an adjective to mean "(like) someone who warns people of coming trouble but gets ignored." Similar to a Cassandra, but without all the frustration of getting pooh-poohed, is a Sibyl, a mythic Greek figure who revealed prophecies. Today you can call things Sibylline, or Sibyllic, to mean they remind you of the Sibyl oracles--or simply that they're oracular, mysterious, magical, mystic, or veiled. (Ooooo.) A while back, we checked out a synonym of Sibylline: __cond___. It means "obscure, hidden away, not easily understood by regular people." Could you recall it? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "SIBYLLINE" In Greek myth, a Sibyl (or a lowercase "sibyl") is an oracle: someone who makes prophecies, foretelling the future, by passing on the messages they receive directly from the gods. Today you can call someone a Sibyl, meaning she predicts the future--whether she's right or not!--or that she's magical and mysterious. (And of course, it's is a girl's first name. When we meet Sibyls in fiction, regardless of how their names are spelled, it's a good guess that the authors chose that name for a reason: consider J. K. Rowling's prophetess Sybill Trelawney; Downton Abbey's forward-thinking, world-bridging Lady Sybil Crawley; and Oscar Wilde's Sybil Vane, whose manner of death is foretold pretty obviously when we first meet her.) Someone or something Sibylline, or Sibyllic, reminds you of mythical fortune-telling or is simply mystic and mysterious.     Pronunciation: Sibylline: "SIB uh line." Sibyllic: "sih BILL ick." (And "Sibyl" rhymes with "nibble.") Part of speech: Proper adjective.  You always capitalize proper adjectives, like "Korean," "Shakespearean," and "Christian." (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a Sibylline thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was Sibylline.") Other common forms: none How to use it: Just like with other rare, fancy-sounding words from Greek literature, be tactful with this one. Use it when you know your audience will understand it, or when you're trying to get a laugh because it sounds so over-the-top erudite. I'll keep capitalizing this word, but you can actually write it either way: "Sibylline" or "sibylline." Talk about Sibylline statements, guesses, predictions, and omens; Sibylline notes, codes, messages, and inscriptions; Sibylline insight, intuition, and wisdom; Sibylline eyes, smiles, manners, and ways of speaking, etc. And please remember, the word has a feminine flavor. examples: With her icy poise and Sibylline eyes, Cate Blanchett nails it as Galadriel. Ann Pettifor spelled out the upcoming debt crisis and its vast consequences with the foresight of a sibyl. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "Sibylline" means when you can explain it without saying "prophetic" or "arcane." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Something so wonderful it seems superhuman or otherworldly) (takes shape, plays out, unfolds, or arises) perfectly, as if from Sibylline inspiration." Example: "The simple tune to 'Can’t Help Falling In Love' unfolds perfectly, as if from Sibylline inspiration." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is "The Meanings of Maladies." I'll share a tidbit about the word for a particular symptom, disease, or condition, and you try to name it. We'll start with common maladies and work our way toward the rare and strange. From our previous issue: The word for this condition was coined by a Swiss psychiatrist from Greek roots meaning "a splitting of the mind." Contrary to popular view, this condition is not multiple personality disorder--it's a break with reality. What's the condition? Answer: Schizophrenia. Try this today: The name for this skin condition comes from a Latin word for "attack" and is closely related to our word impetuous. What is it?  review today's word: 1. A close opposite of SIBYLLINE is A. NIRVANIC. B. OROTUND. C. PATENT. 2. In Poe's "Ulalume," as the speaker of the poem wanders a murky forest, he sees a mysterious star. He trusts it, its "Sybilic splendor" surely there to _____. A. comfort his aching, grieving soul B. light the precise path he is destined to travel C. scare off the ghosts and demons hiding in the trees Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. B