pendulum
English
Etymology
Borrowed from the neuter of Latin pendulus (“hanging”).
Pronunciation
Noun
pendulum (plural pendulums or pendula) (See usage notes.)
- A body suspended from a fixed support so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, commonly used to regulate various devices such as clocks.
- A lamp, etc. suspended from a ceiling.
- A watch's guard-ring by which it is attached to a chain.
Usage notes
The plural form pendula is significantly rarer than pendulums; see etymology at pendula for details. However, pendula is occasionally used in physics.
Related terms
Translations
body suspended from a fixed support
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See also
Anagrams
Latin
Adjective
(deprecated template usage) pendulum
- nominative neuter singular of pendulus
- accusative masculine singular of pendulus
- accusative neuter singular of pendulus
- vocative neuter singular of pendulus
References
- pendulum in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)