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Vacillate vs Alternate - What's the difference?

vacillate | alternate |

In intransitive terms the difference between vacillate and alternate

is that vacillate is to swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another while alternate is to vary by turns.

As an adjective alternate is

being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.

As a noun alternate is

that which alternates with something else; vicissitude.

vacillate

English

Verb

(vacillat)
  • To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate.
  • * 1910:
    • Its [the barometer's] normal register in the Paumotus [the Tuamotus] was 29.90, and it was quite customary to see it vacillate between 29.85 and 30.00, or even 30.05; [...]
  • To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.
  • * 2004: , Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage
    • On the streets of Berlin, Ruth and her compatriots vacillated "between hope and despair."

    Synonyms

    * (to sway from one side to the other) stagger * (to swing indecisively) blow hot and cold, waffle

    Related terms

    * vacillant * vacillating * vacillation * vacillator * vacillatory

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    alternate

    English

    (Webster 1913)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.
    • And bid alternate passions fall and rise . -
  • (mathematics) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.
    • the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
  • (US) Other; alternative.
    • Hyperlinked text is displayed in alternate color in a Web browser.
  • (botany) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.
    • (Gray)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
  • * Matthew Prior
    • Grateful alternates of substantial.
  • (US) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
  • (mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
  • (US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
  • (heraldry) Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.

    • Verb

    (alternat)
  • To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
  • * Grew
    • The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil.
  • To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with .
    • The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
  • To vary by turns.
    • ''The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.

    Derived terms

    * alternate allegation * alternate angles * alternate generation * alternately * alternation

    See also

    * alternative * variant

    External links

    * * * * * alternate in The Online Etymology Dictionary English heteronyms ----