ENGLISH
REFERENCE

oscillate

v.
US //ˈɑsəˌɫeɪt// UK //ˈɒsɪlˌeɪt// os·cil·late
Synonyms
Origin

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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