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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
FLUC'TUATE, v.i. [L. fluctuo, from fluctus, a wave, from fluo, to flow.]
To move as a wave] to roll
hither and thither; to wave; to float backward and forward, as on
waves; as, a fluctuating field of air.
Blackmore. To move now in one direction and now in
another; to be wavering or unsteady; to be irresolute or
undetermined; to vacillate.
Syn. -- To waver; vacillate; hesitate; scruple. -- To Fluctuate, Vacillate, Waver. -- Fluctuate is applied both to things and persons and denotes that they move as they are acted upon. The stocks fluctuate; a man fluctuates between conflicting influences. Vacillate and waver are applied to persons to represent them as acting themselves. A man vacillates when he goes backward and forward in his opinions and purposes, without any fixity of mind or principles. A man wavers when he shrinks back or hesitates at the approach of difficulty or danger. One who is fluctuating in his feelings is usually vacillating in resolve, and wavering in execution. To cause to
move as a wave; to put in motion.
[R.]
And fluctuate all the still perfume. Tennyson. | ||||||||