sibilance

[Eng. sibilan (t); -ce.] The quality or state of being sibilant; a sibilant or hi ing sound. sib-Il-an-çỹ, 8. [Eng. sibilan (t); -cy.] The quality or state of being sibilant, or of being pronounced or uttered with a hi ing sound, as 8 or z . sib-il-ant, a. & 8. [Lat. sibilans , pr. par. of sibilo to hi .] A. As adj.: Hi ing; making a hi ing sound; uttered or pronounced with a hi ing sound. "It were easy to add a nasal letter to each of the other pair of lisping and sibilant letters.' -Holder: Elements of Speech. B. As subst.: A letter which is pronounced or uttered with a hi ing sound of the voice, as s or z. "His remarks on sibilants are equally deserving atten tion."-Athenœum, May 3, 1884, p. 565.