Oscillate

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skinem
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Posts: 1197
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:33 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Oscillate

Postby skinem » Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:28 pm

os·cil·late

Pronunciation: \ˈä-sə-ˌlāt\
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): os·cil·lat·ed; os·cil·lat·ing
Etymology: Latin oscillatus, past participle of oscillare to swing, from oscillum swing
Date: 1726
1 a: to swing backward and forward like a pendulum b: to move or travel back and forth between two points
2: to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories
3: to vary above and below a mean value
synonyms see swing
— os·cil·la·to·ry \ˈä-sə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

Not mentioned here, but my dad being and electronic engineer, growing up we always had the odd oscillator around as well.

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Slava
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Postby Slava » Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:50 pm

oscillation -1650s, from Fr. oscillation, from L. oscillationem (nom. oscillatio), pp. of oscillare "to swing," supposed to be from oscillum "little face," lit. "little mouth," a mask of open-mouthed Bacchus hung up in vineyards to swing in the breeze.
Okay, I give up, why?

Suggested long ago, I vote we give this one some good vibes and see if we can't get it treated by the Dr.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.


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