/ ˈpendjələm; NAmE -dʒələm/ noun
a long straight part with a weight at the end that moves regularly from side to side to control the movement of a clock :
( figurative )
In education, the pendulum has swung back to traditional teaching methods.
the pendulum of public opinion
—picture at grandfather clock
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin , neuter (used as a noun) of pendulus hanging down.