Dictionary

sib en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /sɪb/

Etymology

From Middle English sib, from Old English sibb (“related, akin, sib”), from Proto-Germanic *sibjaz (“related”), from Proto-Indo-European *sebʰ-, *swebʰ- (“one's own”). Cognate with West Frisian besibbe (“related”), Middle Dutch sibbe (“related”), Middle Low German sibbe (“related”), Middle High German sippe (“related”), Icelandic sifi (“related”).

Meanings

1. Having kinship or relationship; related by same-bloodedness; kindred.
   • seeing that his Majesty is "sibber to him than all the brothers and sons he has in the world." So far, James Haig had played his part with consummate skill. 1881, John Russell, The Haigs of Bemersyde: A Family History, page 144:
   • "You talk about the crook in our Campbell tongue in one breath," said he, "and in the next you would make yourself a Campbell more sib to the chief than I am myself. Don't you think we might put off our little affairs of family history till we find a lady and a child in Strongara?" 1898, Neil Munro, John Splendid: The Tale of a Poor Gentleman and the Little Wars of Lorn, Copp, Clark, page 126:
   • […] they are sibber to you than ever Miss Innes was or will be; and if like to bid me, […] 1871 [reprinted 2023], Ellen Ross, The Wreck of the White Bear: Vol. 1, page 207
2. Akin (to); similar (to).
   • 1701. June 19. Dewar of Lassody against Scott of Spencerfield's Factor and Creditors. […]; and that creditors seemed to be much sibber to these annualrents than the factors. 1826, Scotland. Court of Session, Mungo Ponton Brown, Supplement to the Dictionary of the Decisions of the Court of Session, page 503:
   • I like my cousins in Holland immensely, but I feel more sib to the Northerners. Your description of Lofoten is fine. I can see them. They must be enchanting in their way, cod's head and tails or no. There is a fine eau de Javelle smack about a Dutch canal, by the way, that takes[…] 1906, Oliver Elton, Frederick York Powell: A Life and a Selection from His Letters and Occasional Writings, page 249:
   • […] we are so much the sibber to Christ that we suffer; […] 1637 July 6, Letter CLIV to William Glendinning [from Samuel Rutherford in Aberdeen], published in 1821, Joshua Redivivus; Or, Three Hundred and Fifty Two Religious Letters ... To which is Prefixed a Life of the Author, page 199

Forms

sib en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /sɪb/

Etymology

From Middle English sib, sibbe, from Old English sibb (“relationship; gossip; friendliness, kindness; love, friendship, peace, concord, unity, tranquility; peace of mind; a relative, kinsman, kinswoman”), from Proto-West Germanic *sibbju, from Proto-Germanic *sibjō (“kinship”), from Proto-Indo-European *sebʰ-, *swebʰ- (“one's own”). Cognate with West Frisian sibbe (“relative, family member”), Dutch sibbe (“sib”), German Sippe (“tribe, clan”), Icelandic sifjar (“in-laws”), Latin suus (“one's own”).

Meanings

1. Kindred; kin; kinsmen; a body of persons related by blood in any degree.
2. A kinsman; a blood relation; a relative, near or remote; one closely allied to another; an intimate companion.
   • But she got up to go, and Domenico obeyed me too in mock meekness, making himself sib and coeval to Hortense, submissive to frowning elder brother, something incestuous in it. 1980, Anthony Burgess, Earthly Powers:
3. A sibling, brother or sister (irrespective of gender)
4. Any group of animals or plants sharing a corresponding genetic relation
5. A group of individuals unilaterally descended from a single (real or postulated) common ancestor

Forms

Deriveds

sibness · sib-in-law · stepsib · little sib · sibset · sib-bred · half-sib · sibship · sibling · listsib · fullsib · sibred · biosib

Relateds

gossip

sib en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /sɪb/

Etymology

From Middle English *sibben, *sibbien, from Old English sibbian (“to make peace; rejoice”), from Proto-Germanic *sibjōną (“to reconcile”), Proto-Indo-European *sebʰ-, *swebʰ- (“one's own”). Cognate with German sippen (“to be in relationship with, become related to”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To bring into relation; establish a relationship between; make friendly; reconcile.

Forms

sib en · VERB · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /sɪb/

Etymology

From the abbreviation SIB, or self-injurious behavior, a behavior found in autism.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To engage in repetitive behaviors such as eye-poking, skin-picking, hand-biting, or head-banging.

Forms