sibyl Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a woman who tells fortunes
  2. noun (ancient Rome) a woman who was regarded as an oracle or prophet

WordNet

Sib"yl noun
Etymology
L. sibylla, Gr. .
Definitions
  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 1913