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Webster 1913 Edition

Sibyl

Sib′yl

,
Noun.
[L.
sibylla
, Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK].]
1.
(Class. Antiq.)
A woman supposed to be endowed with a spirit of prophecy.
☞ The number of the sibyls is variously stated by different authors; but the opinion of Varro, that there were ten, is generally adopted. They dwelt in various parts of Persia, Greece, and Italy.
2.
A female fortune teller; a pythoness; a prophetess.
“An old highland sibyl.”
Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sibyl

SIB'YL

,
Noun.
[from the L.] In pagan antiquity, the Sibyls were certain said to be endowed with a prophetic spirit. Their number is variously stated; but the opinion of Varro, who states them to have been ten, is generally adopted. They resided in various parts of Persia, Greece and Italy. It is pretended that they wrote certain prophecies on leaves in verse, which are called Sibylline verses, or Sibylline oracles.

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