vibration

Forms

vibration f (plural vibrations)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin vibrātiō (“brandishing, shaking”), derived from Latin vibrō (“to brandish, shake”).^[2][3][4] The TLFi treats it as borrowed twice: once in the early 16th century in the sense “brandishing”, and again in 1632 as a term of physics.^[2] The GLLF and Rey allow that it may instead have been formed in French from the verb vibrer.^[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Fossetier's Chronique margaritique (1508–1517) meaning the brandishing of a weapon before it is thrown.^[2][5][4]

Semantic evolution

The first sense was abandoned, and the word was taken up in physics by Mersenne (1632) for the rapid to-and-fro movement of the air.^[2][6] From 1665 it also named the swing of a pendulum, a use later taken over by oscillation.^[6][2] Sound vibrations follow in 1754, light vibrations in the 19th century, then electric and electromagnetic ones and, in the 20th century, molecular vibrations.^[6][2]

Outside science it described from 1790 what vibrates or changes rapidly in intensity, at first figuratively.^[2][6] From 1874 it was also said of the shimmer of light or air.^[6][5]

Timeline

• 1508–1517 – Fossetier uses it for brandishing a weapon.^[2]
• 1632 – Mersenne uses it in physics, of the air.^[2][4]
• 1665 – The Journal des Sçavans speaks of the vibrations of pendulums.^[2]
• 1680 – Richelet records it.^[5]
• 1754 – Condillac writes of the vibrations of sounding bodies.^[2][6]
• 1790 – First figurative use, by Saint-Martin.^[2]
• 1874 – Flaubert writes of the vibration of light.^[5][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. The rapid oscillating movement or state of something that vibrates, and the sound or shaking it produces: la vibration d’une vitre au passage d’un camion.^[7][3][2]
2. (physics) An oscillation of high frequency and small amplitude: sound, light or electromagnetic vibrations.^[7][8]
3. A rapid repeated jolting, trepidation, as of an engine.^[3]
4. A tremor or modulation of a voice or sound.^[3]
5. The apparent shimmer of air caused by strong heat.^[3]
6. (building) The vibrating of fresh concrete to make it denser.^[3]

Related words

• vibrer
• Latin vibrātiō

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
8. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert