Fluc"tu*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fluctuated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Fluctuating (?).] [L. fluctuatus, p. p. of fluctuare, to wave, fr.
fluctus wave, fr. fluere, fluctum, to flow. See Fluent, and cf.
Flotilla.] 1. To move as a wave; to roll hither and thither; to wave;
to float backward and forward, as on waves; as, a fluctuating field of
air. Blackmore.
2. To move now in one direction and now in another; to be wavering or
unsteady; to be irresolute or undetermined; to vacillate.
Syn. -- To waver; vacillate; hesitate; scruple. -- To Fluctuate,
Vacillate, Waver. -- Fluctuate is applied both to things and persons
and denotes that they move as they are acted upon. The stocks
fluctuate; a man fluctuates between conflicting influences. Vacillate
and waver are applied to persons to represent them as acting
themselves. A man vacillates when he goes backward and forward in his
opinions and purposes, without any fixity of mind or principles. A man
wavers when he shrinks back or hesitates at the approach of difficulty
or danger. One who is fluctuating in his feelings is usually
vacillating in resolve, and wavering in execution.