Dither
/ˈdɪð.ər/noun
To act nervously or indecisively, or to fluctuate rapidly between states.
Did you know?In computing, “dither” was later adopted for deliberately adding tiny amounts of noise to reduce distortion—turning apparent disorder into greater accuracy.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
dyderian
“To tremble or quiver; an early Germanic form associated with shaking.”
Late Middle English
Middle English
didderen
“To tremble or quiver repeatedly; likely a frequentative formation.”
16th Century
English
dither
“To tremble, shiver, or be in an agitated state.”
17th Century
English
dither
“To be unable to decide because of nervous agitation or confusion.”
1950s
English
dither
“A deliberately introduced random signal used in electronics and digital sound or image processing.”
Modern English
English
dither
“To hesitate anxiously or fluctuate between choices; also, to add controlled noise in technical systems.”