Also 5 -acion. [ad. (either directly or through Fr.) L. fluctuātiōn-em, n. of action f. fluctuāre: see FLUCTUATE v. and -ATION.] The action of fluctuating.
1. A motion like that of the waves, an alternate rise, and fall. Now rare in physical sense.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VII. xvii. 377. In vaine wee expect a regularity in the waves of the Sea, or in the particular motions thereof, as in its generall reciprocations, whose causes are constant and their effects therefore correspondent; whereas its Fluctuations are but motions subservient, which winds, stormes, shoares, shelves, and every interjacency irregulates.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 259. This fluctuation of the sea from the tides, produces another, and more constant rotation of its waters, from the east to the west, in this respect following the course of the moon.
1847. Tennyson, The Princess, VI. 335.
| Each base, To left and right, of those tall columns drown’d | |
| In silken fluctuation and the swarm | |
| Of female whisperers. | |
| Ibid. (1850), In Mem., cxii. | |
| Large elements in order brought, | |
| And tracts of calm from tempest made, | |
| And world-wide fluctuation sway’d | |
| In vassal tides that follow’d thought. |
b. Path. The undulation of a fluid in any cavity or tumor of the body.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, Introd. 8. They weaken the stomacke, and cause fluctuations, and flatuousnesse in the body.
1640. G. Watts, trans. Bacon’s Adv. Learn., IV. i. 183. The fluctuation or pensility of the Bowells.
1754–64. Smellie, Midwif., II. 149. In the abdomen, which was very large, I plainly felt a fluctuation of water.
1807–26. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 253. The inside of the thigh was soft, and presented a kind of fluctuation; but not the least pulsation could be distinguished, either here, or at any other point.
1860. R. Fowler, Med. Voc., Fluctuation.… The undulation of a fluid contained in any natural or morbid cavity of the body, as felt by proper manipulation.
2. The action or condition of passing more or less rapidly and suddenly from one state to another; an instance of this; repeated variation, vicissitude. In pl. ‘ups and downs.’
1609. Bible (Douay), Ps. liv. [lv]. 23 [22]. He wil not geve fluctuation to the just for ever.
c. 1661. Papers on Alter. Prayer-bk., 82. The Moderatour of the Universe raised up such guides as were sufficient, in so great a fluctuation.
1712. Berkeley, Pass. Obed., § 54, Wks. III. 138. In the various changes and fluctuations of government, it is impossible to prevent that controversies should sometimes arise concerning the seat of the supreme power.
1753. (title) Travels and Adventures of Wm. Bingfield Esq. containing as surprizing a Fluctuation of Circumstances, both by Sea and Land, as ever befel one Man.
1841. Disraeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 132. Every modern language has always existed in fluctuation and change.
b. An alternate rise and fall in amount or degree, price or value, temperature, etc.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxii. 430. The eccentricities, it is true, will still vary, but so slowly, and to so small an extent, as to produce no inconveniency from fluctuation of temperature and season.
1804. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., III. 425. The remissions for unfavorable seasons, and the military and civil expenses of the government, are liable to fluctuation.
1878. Huxley, Physiography, 22. As the pressure of the atmosphere in any given locality varies from day to day, and even from hour to hour, the height of the mercurial column is subject to corresponding fluctuation.
3. The condition of parsing alternately from one opinion or sentiment to another; an instance of this; vacillation, wavering.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, I. xxv. He was comfortid, & committed himself to þe wille of god, & þe douteful fluctuacion cessid.
1608. D. T., Ess. Pol. & Mor., 42. Hee suffered not himselfe to be carried away with any such humourous fluctuation.
1717. L. Howel, Desiderius (ed. 3), 99, note. For this Simplicity is the most clear Fountain of the inward Joy and Pleasure of Life: It is that eternal and inexpressible Peace, which is subject to no Cares, Suspicions or Fluctuations of the Mind.
1775. Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 54. For many reigns the House of Commons was in a state of fluctuation: new burgesses were added from time to time, without any reason now to be discovered.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 205. During this inquiry, we should be plunged into a state of uncertainty and fluctuation.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas Marner, 15. Some anxiety at the perception that Sarah’s manner towards him began to exhibit a strange fluctuation between an effort at an increased manifestation of regard and involuntary signs of shrinking and dislike.
