oscillation
/ˌɒsɪˈleɪʃən/
noun
Origin
Latin
oscillare — to swing
Overview
Meaning Now
- The action or fact of moving back and forth in a regular rhythm.
- A regular variation in magnitude or position about a central point.
Literal older meaning
a swinging or movement like a pendulum
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
oscillatio
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term derives from the Roman 'oscillum', a small mask or image of Bacchus hung from trees to swing in the wind. These were intended to bless the crops as they turned. The word moved from this specific agricultural ritual to a general mechanical description of pendulous motion in the 17th century.
Evolution
- Ancient Rome
oscillum
“small mask or figure hung up to swing in the wind”
The religious or agricultural context of these masks is the etymological base.
- 17th century
oscillatio
“the process of swinging”
Adopted into Scientific Latin to describe pendulum-like motion.
- 18th century
oscillation
“rhythmic back-and-forth movement”
Direct borrowing into English from Neo-Latin.
Connections
Word parts
oscill-
root
swing
-ation
suffix
process or result of
Related across languages
French
swinging or fluctuation
Italian
oscillazione
oscillation
Explore next
Related to oscillation
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.