oscillate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.

   A pendulum oscillates slower as it gets longer.

2. 2
   verb

   To vacillate between conflicting opinions, etc.

   The mood for change oscillated from day to day.

First attested in 1726; borrowed from Latin ōscillātus, perfect passive participle of Latin ōscillō (“to swing”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ōscillum (“a swing”), usually identified with ōscillum (“a little face or mask hung on a tree that sways with the wind”), diminutive of ōs (“mouth, face”). Doublet of osculate.

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