Sibilant – having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sibilant
Located on the fifth page of “A Rose for Emily” 2nd paragraph; third line. It was used as an adjective in the sentence describing what Emily’s aunts were doing during the funeral.
With the crayon face of her father musing profoundly above the bier and the ladies sibilant and macabre.
I took sibilant to perhaps have meant in mourning. The word sibilant in actuality means to speak in hushed voices. I could then go on to imagine that they may have been gossiping in hushed voices during the wake.
