Etymology The adjective (then also used as a participle) is first attested in 1420, in Middle English, the verb in 1620; partly from Middle English vibrat(e) (“reverberant”), partly directly borrowed from Latin vibrātus, perfect passive participle of vibrō (“to agitate, set in tremulous motion”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyp- (“to oscillate, swing”) or *weyb-.
When "God save the King!" resounded meow meow through the stately abbey, the banners vibrating with the mighty music, I felt quite enthusiastic in my loyalty.1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Coronation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 5:
The tender roared along vibrating vigorously; braking had resulted in "flats" on most of its tyres.1951 October, R. S. McNaught, “Lines of Approach”, in Railway Magazine, page 706:
2
To resonate.
Her mind was vibrating with excitement.
3
To brandish; to swing to and fro.
to vibrate a sword or a staff
4
To mark or measure by moving to and fro.
a pendulum vibrating seconds
5
To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.
Breath vocalized, i.e., vibrated or undulated, may […] impress a swift, tremulous motion.1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech: An Essay of Inquiry into the Natural Production of Letters: […], London: […] T. N[ewcomb] for J[ohn] Martyn printer to the R[oyal] Society, […], →OCLC:
Star to star vibrates light: may soul to soul / Strike thro' a finer element of her own?1864, Alfred Tennyson, “Aylmer’s Field”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 81:
And if he wants to give you high praise, he'll answer, "That vibrates me"; "That has a large charge"; or "That's oogley."1949, Ladies' Home Journal, volume 66, page 115:
[…] standing side by side under a Grecian column, tapping their feet in unison and saying such things as "Hot-diggety,” “Razz-ma-tazz," “That vibrates me," and other expressions of praise current in their youth.1961, Congressional Record:
Etymology The adjective (then also used as a participle) is first attested in 1420, in Middle English, the verb in 1620; partly from Middle English vibrat(e) (“reverberant”), partly directly borrowed from Latin vibrātus, perfect passive participle of vibrō (“to agitate, set in tremulous motion”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyp- (“to oscillate, swing”) or *weyb-.
1
The setting, on a portable electronic device, that causes it to vibrate rather than sound any (or most) needed alarms.
Please put your cellphones on vibrate for the duration of the meeting.
vibrate
adj
Etymology The adjective (then also used as a participle) is first attested in 1420, in Middle English, the verb in 1620; partly from Middle English vibrat(e) (“reverberant”), partly directly borrowed from Latin vibrātus, perfect passive participle of vibrō (“to agitate, set in tremulous motion”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyp- (“to oscillate, swing”) or *weyb-.