Friday, August 21, 2015

oscillate, osculate

Oscillate or oscillate means to swing back and forth, like a pendulum, literally or figuratively--
The value may oscillate from two to negative two, along an axis of zero.
His opinions seem to oscillate between liberal and conservative, but he's really independent.

Osulate or osculate means to come into close contact; to kiss or touch, as two circles or geometric forms, or facetiously, people--
The two curves are said to osculate when they come into contact at one point.
Their wedding photo is funny; they seem to osculate, in profile, like a pair of kissing fish.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His feelings seemed to oscillate between an ardent desire to osculate with the woman, and stone cold indifference."

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