sibyl
sibyl — 名詞
- sibylsingular
- sibylsplural
1. in classical legend, a woman believed to channel the voice of a god and foretell
女預言家
古希臘羅馬傳達神諭的女先知
in classical legend, a woman believed to channel the voice of a god and foretell what was destined to happen
Professor Hayes showed us a Roman coin stamped with the image of a sibyl.
Hayes 教授向我們展示了一枚鑄有女預言家頭像的羅馬硬幣。
In the myth, a sibyl guided the hero through the underworld with her prophecies.
在神話中，一位女預言家用預言引導英雄穿越冥界。
collocation: guided the hero through the underworld
The guide explained that a sibyl at Delphi once delivered her oracles while in a trance.
導遊解釋說，德爾斐的一位女預言家曾在恍惚狀態中傳達神諭。
passive framing: delivered her oracles while in a trance
Ancient writers described each sibyl as living in a cave filled with mysterious vapours.
古代作家描述每位女預言家都住在充滿神祕蒸氣的洞穴裡。
Chiara's dissertation compared the Roman sibyl to older prophetic figures from Babylon.
Chiara 的論文比較了羅馬女預言家與巴比倫更古老的預言人物。
- the Sibyl of Cumae
- the Delphic sibyl
- consult a sibyl
- oracle
can refer to the person, the place, or the prophecy itself; broader than sibyl
- prophetess
a female prophet in any religious tradition, not limited to the classical world
- seer
a person, male or female, believed to perceive hidden truths; less tied to a specific culture
用法筆記
Refers specifically to the legendary prophetesses of classical antiquity, such as the Sibyl of Cumae. Do not use for a modern fortune-teller — that is sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. any woman who says she can look into the future and describe what will happen to
女算命師
宣稱能預知未來的女性占卜者
any woman who says she can look into the future and describe what will happen to people
A sibyl at the village fair offered to read Kofi's palm for five pounds.
市集上的一位女算命師提出用五英鎊幫 Kofi 看手相。
collocation: read [someone's] palm
Darius laughed when the sibyl told him he would meet a tall stranger before sunset.
Darius 笑了，因為女算命師告訴他日落前會遇見一位高大的陌生人。
The sibyl kept a crystal ball and a worn deck of cards on her table.
女算命師的桌上擺著一顆水晶球和一副舊紙牌。
Hoa crossed the street to avoid the sibyl who always tried to read her fortune.
Hoa 穿過馬路，避開那位總是想幫她算命的女算命師。
The carnival's resident sibyl sat under a striped tent, promising glimpses of the future.
嘉年華的駐場女算命師坐在條紋帳篷下，承諾讓人瞥見未來。
collocation: glimpses of the future
- a fairground sibyl
- consult a sibyl
- fortune-teller
the everyday, neutral term; no classical or literary overtones
- clairvoyant
implies a claimed psychic ability to see hidden things, not just the future
- soothsayer
old-fashioned or literary; can be male or female
用法筆記
Often used with a hint of scepticism — calling a fortune-teller a 'sibyl' can sound literary or gently mocking. More common in writing than in everyday speech.
同根字
- sibylline形容詞C2