oscillate
verb
To move or swing back and forth in a regular rhythm; to waver between extremes of opinion, action, or quality; to fluctuate.
Etymology
From Latin oscillare meaning "to swing," from oscillum (a small face or mask hung as a charm), which was hung to swing in the wind.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The pendulum oscillated with perfect regularity."
- 2.
"Her mood oscillated between hope and despair."
- 3.
"Radio waves oscillate at specific frequencies."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The origin story involves ancient Romans hanging masks (oscilla) in trees to swing in the wind as offerings. These swinging masks gave us a word for any back-and-forth motion.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 9 letters (O, S, C, I, L, L, A, T, E)
Scrabble Value: 11 points
Tip: Words ending in "TE" are often good scoring opportunities.
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