A multiphase oscillator with a control path for urging the rotational direction of the oscillator is disclosed. The multiphase oscillator has an electrically or magnetically or both continuous signal path over which a signal propagates subject to a phase reversal on each traversal of the signal path and active switching means that create and sustain the propagating signal. A control path has a control signal whose propagation activates each switching means in the order of the direction of propagation of the control signal on the control path so as to determine direction of the signal propagating on the signal path.