[ 'pɛndjʊləm ]
■ noun
1》 a weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely, especially a rod with a weighted end that regulates the mechanism of a clock.
2》 the tendency of a situation to oscillate between extremes: the ~ of fashion.
Derivatives
pendular adjective
Origin
C17: from L., neut. of pendulus 'hanging down'.