Oscillated

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Oscillate \Os"cil*late\ ([o^]s"s[i^]l*l[=a]t), v. i. [imp. & p.
     p. {Oscillated} ([o^]s"s[i^]l*l[=a]`t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Oscillating} ([o^]s"s[i^]l*l[=a]`t[i^]ng).] [L. oscillare to
     swing, fr. oscillum a swing, a little mask or puppet made to
     be hung from trees and swing in the wind, prob. orig., a
     little mouth, a dim. from os mouth. See {Oral}, and cf.


     {Osculate}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. To move backward and forward; to vibrate like a pendulum;
        to swing; to sway.
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     2. To vary or fluctuate between fixed limits; to act or move
        in a fickle or fluctuating manner; to change repeatedly,
        back and forth.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The amount of superior families oscillates rather
              than changes, that is, it fluctuates within fixed
              limits.                               --De Quincey.
        [1913 Webster]