Vibrate
/ˈvaɪb.reɪt/noun
To move back and forth rapidly; to give off a rhythmic oscillation.
Did you know?English *vibrate* comes from Latin *vibrāre*, a word used for shaking, brandishing, and darting motion, and it shares deep roots with words like *viper* and *violate* through the ancient Indo-European idea of swift, forceful movement.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weybʰ-
“to move to and fro, oscillate, twist”
Latin
Latin
vibrāre
“to shake, brandish, dart to and fro”
Late Latin
Latin
vibrātus
“shaken; brandished”
Old French
Old French
vibrer
“to vibrate, quiver”
Late Middle English
English
vibrate
“to shake or quiver”
Modern English
English
vibrate
“to move rapidly back and forth; to resonate”