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Origin and history of modulator

modulator(n.)

c. 1500, "one who or that which modulates," from Latin modulator "one who measures by rule, a regulator" in various senses (such as "musical director"), agent noun from past participle stem of modulari "regulate, measure off properly" (see modulate). Meaning "device that produces modulation of a wave" is from 1919.

also from c. 1500

Entries linking to modulator

modulate(v.)

1610s, in music, "vary or inflect the sound of," especially to give expressiveness, "vary the pitch of," back-formation from modulation, or else from Latin modulatus, past participle of modulari "regulate, measure off properly, measure rhythmically; play, play upon," from modulus "small measure," diminutive of modus "measure, manner" (from PIE root *med- "take appropriate measures").

General sense of "modify, adjust, adapt, regulate in measure or proportion" is from 1620s. The intransitive musical sense of "pass from one key to another, or between major and minor" is attested by 1721. In telecommunications from 1908. Meaning "exert a controlling influence on, regulate" is by 1964. Related: Modulated; modulating.

modem(n.)

by 1937 in reference to electrical transmission of sound and other signals, contracted from modulator-demodulator; see modulator.

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