libratory

[lahy-bruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

1. oscillatory.

Word History and Origins

Origin of libratory¹

First recorded in 1660–70; librate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

“On one hand, opening access to funding is great and a step in the right direction, but I believe the process of education should always be libratory.”

From Seattle Times

The Evection, an irregular motion of the Moon discovered by Ptolemy, whereby her mean longitude is increased or diminished, was explained by Horrox as depending upon the libratory motion of the apsides, and the change which takes place in the eccentricity of the lunar orbit.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, since her orbit is nearly circular, libratory effects are very small.

From Project Gutenberg

Herschel had a theory on the subject—viz., that just where the balancing or libratory swing of the moon brings into view the greatest extent beyond the eastern or western parts of that hemisphere which is turned earthwards in the moon's mean or average position, lunar inhabitants would probably be found, and nowhere else.

From Project Gutenberg

Another effect of the libratory motion of the sun as seen from Mercury is represented in the next figure, where we have a view of the planet showing both the day and the night hemisphere, and where we see that between the two there is a region upon which the sun rises and sets once every eighty-eight days.

From Project Gutenberg