LIBRATE
Li"brate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Librated p. pr. & & vb. n. Librating.]
Etym: [L. libratus, p. p. of librare to balance, to make even, fr.
libra.Cf. Level, Deliberate, Equilibrium.]
Defn: To vibrate as a balance does before resting in equilibrium;
hence, to be poised.
Their parts all liberate on too nice a beam. Clifton.
LIBRATE
Li"brate, v. i.
Defn: To poise; to balance.
LIBRATION
Li*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. libratio: cf. F. libration.]
1. The act or state of librating. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A real or apparent libratory motion, like that of a balance before coming to rest. Libration of the moon, any one of those small periodical changes in the position of the moon's surface relatively to the earth, in consequence of which narrow portions at opposite limbs become visible or invisible alternately. It receives different names according to the manner in which it takes place; as: (a) Libration in longitude, that which, depending on the place of the moon in its elliptic orbit, causes small portions near the eastern and western borders alternately to appear and disappear each month. (b) Libration in latitude, that which depends on the varying position of the moon's axis in respect to the spectator, causing the alternate appearance and disappearance of either pole. (c) Diurnal or parallactic libration, that which brings into view on the upper limb, at rising and setting, some parts not in the average visible hemisphere.
LIBRATORY
Li"bra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Balancing; moving like a balance, as it tends to an equipoise or level.