Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class II. Words Relating to SpaceSection IV. Motion
4. Motion with Reference to Direction
314. [Reciprocating Motion, Motion To and Fro.] Oscillation.
NOUN:OSCILLATION; vibration, vibratility, libration; motion of a pendulum; nutation, circumnutation; undulation; pulsation; pulse, beat, throb; seismicity, seismism, seismology.ALTERNATION; coming and going &c. v.; ebb and flow, flux and reflux, systole and diastole; libration -of the moon, – in latitude; ups and downs; crossruff [in cards].
FLUCTUATION; vacillation (irresolution) [See Irresolution].
SWING, wave, vibratiuncle [rare], beat, shake, wag, seesaw, teeter [U. S.]; dance, lurch, dodge.
ROCKING STONE, logan (or loggan) stone.
[INSTRUMENTS] vibroscope, vibrograph; seismograph, seismoscope.
VERB:OSCILLATE; nutate, vibrate, librate; undulate, wave; rock, sway, swing; pulsate, beat; wag, waggle; nod, bob, curtsy or curtsey, tick; play; wamble, wabble; dangle, swag [obs. or dial.].
fluctuate, dance, curvet, reel, quake; quiver, quaver; shake, flicker; wriggle; roll, toss, pitch; flounder, stagger, totter; move -, bob- up and down &c. adv.
ALTERNATE, pass and repass, shuttle, ebb and flow, come and go; vacillate [See Irresolution].
BRANDISH, shake, flourish; agitate [See Agitation].
ADJECTIVE:OSCILLATING &c. v.; oscillatory, undulatory, pulsatory, libratory; vibratory, vibrative, vibratile; seismic or seismical, seismal, seismographic, seismological; pendulous; shuttlewise.
ADVERB:TO AND FRO, up and down, backwards and forwards, back and forth, in and out, seesaw, zigzag, wibble-wabble [colloq.], in and out, from side to side, like buckets in a well.