sibling

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪb.lɪŋ/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person's brother or sister

Etymology

First use appears c. 1903, a modern revival of Old English sibling (“relative, a relation, kinsman”), equivalent to sib + -ling. Compare Middle English siblynges pl, sib, sibbe (“relative; kinsman”), German Sippe. The term apparently meant merely kin or relative until the 20th century when it was applied in a way that aided the study of genetics, which led to its specialized use. For example, the OED has a citation in 1902 in which sibling must be defined for those who do not know the intended meaning.

In classic literature

Synonyms

sib

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
relative
Narrower (hyponyms)
twin, triplet, half blood, quintuplet, quadruplet

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