modulation

noun

Etymology: From Late Middle English modulacion, modulacioun (“act of making music or singing; harmony; melody, song”), from Middle French modulation (modern French modulation), and directly from its etymon Latin modulātiō (“regular or rhythmical measure, modulation; inflection of tone; (architecture) calculation of measurements from a standard unit; (Late Latin) act of making music or singing; melody, song”), from modulātus (“modulated”) + -iō (suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs). Modulātus is a perfect participle of modulor (“to beat time; to make music or sing; to measure; etc.”), from modulus (“rhythmical measure, interval; rhythm; small interval or measure, etc.”) + -or (suffix forming certain inflections of verbs); and modulus is from modus (“measure; method; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure; etc.”)) + -ulus (diminutive suffix). By surface analysis, modulat(e) + -ion (suffix denoting an action or process, or its result).

1. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “More ouer the emperours that were moſte noble⸝ delited in daunſyng⸝ perceyuing ther in to be a perfecte meaſure⸝ which maye be called modulation: wherin ſome daunſers of olde tyme ſo wonderfully excelled⸝ that they wolde plainly expreſſe in daunſynge⸝ without any wordes or dittie⸝ hiſtories with the hole circumſtaunce of affaires⸝ in them cõtayned: […]”

   “Theſe [minerals] have not yet been vvell reduced, or the number of the ſimple original ones rightly fixt; ſome, vvhich are only Compounds, the Matter of tvvo or more kinds being mix'd together, and, by the different Proportion and Modulation of that Matter, variouſly diſguiſed and diverſifyed, having been reputed all different kinds of Minerals, and thereby the Number of them unneceſſarily multiplied.”

2. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “[…] I ſhall endeavour to point out and regularly deſcribe a certain order and arrangement in their [shades or shadows'] appearance, in vvhich order vve may conceive different kinds of ſoftnings and modulations of the rays of light vvhich are ſaid to fall upon the eye from every object it ſees, and to cauſe thoſe more or leſs-pleaſing vibrations of the optic nerves, vvhich ſerve to inform the mind concerning every different ſhape or figure that preſents itſelf.”

3. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
4. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “Modulation is the process in which information is encoded in radio signals. Modulation describes changing an aspect of the wave. There are two main types of radio modulation: amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). […] In amplitude modulation the height (amplitude) of the wave is changed. In frequency modulation, the number of waves that pass a given point in a second is changed.”

5. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “[A]lthough the vveazon, throtle and tongue [of birds] be the inſtruments of voice, and by their agitations doe chiefly concurre unto theſe delightfull modulations, yet cannot vve aſſigne the cauſe unto any particular formation; […]”

   “The Rings of the VVind-pipe, are fitted for the Modulation of the Voice.”

6. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “More interesting still the modulations, not merely from one key to another, but from mood to mood. A theme is stated, then developed, pushed out of shape, imperceptibly deformed, until, though still recognizably the same, it has become quite different.”

7. Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “Garamond has much modulation, while Helvetica has very little.”

8. Changing of a thing from one form to another; (countable) an instance of this.
9. Harmonious use of language in poetry or prose.

   “Then begin the arts of rhetoric and poetry, the regulation of figures, the ſelection of vvords, the modulation of periods, the graces of tranſition, the complication of cauſes, and all the delicacies of ſtyle, and ſubtilties of compoſition, uſeful vvhile they advance perſpicuity, and laudable vvhile they increaſe pleaſure, but eaſy to be refined by needleſs ſcrupuloſity till they ſhall more embarraſs the vvriter than aſſiſt the reader or delight him.”

10. Modification of the parts of a classical Greek or Roman building to achieve appropriate proportions by measuring in modules (“standard units of measure, usually the diameter or radius of a column at the base of a shaft”).

    “About Theatres, ſaith He [Vitruvius], are Porticoes, and VValks, vvhich appear ought to be ſo placed, as they muſt be double. And have the outvvard Columns Dorick vvith Architraves, and Ornaments made from the rule of the Dorick modulation.”

11. Any of the musical notes in ecclesiastical modes of music on which a melodic phrase had to begin and end.
12. Arrangement or composition, or performance, of music in a certain key or mode; also (countable) a series of musical notes, chord, or tune analyzed according to a key or mode.
13. Making music or singing; (countable) a melody, a tune; also (chiefly in the plural), a musical note.

    “I will sing of thy mercy and judgment, says David; when we fix ourselves upon the meditation and modulation of the mercy of God, even his judgments cannot put us out of tune, but we shall sing and be cheerful even in them.”

    “Join'd to Theſe [birds], / Thouſands beſide, thick as the covering Leaves / VVhich ſpeck them o'er, their Modulations mix / Mellifluous.”