vicissitude

American  

[vi-sis-i-tood, -tyood] / vɪˈsɪs ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

1. a change or variation occurring in the course of something.

2. interchange or alternation, as of states or things.

3. vicissitudes, successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs.

   They remained friends through the vicissitudes of 40 years.

4. regular change or succession of one state or thing to another.

5. change; mutation; mutability.

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vicissitude British  

/ vɪˈsɪsɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. variation or mutability in nature or life, esp successive alternation from one condition or thing to another

2. a variation in circumstance, fortune, character, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• vicissitudinous
  adjective
• vicissitudinary
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of vicissitude

First recorded in 1560–70; from Middle French, from Latin vicissitūdō, equivalent to viciss(im) “in turn” (perhaps by syncope, from unrecorded vice-cessim; vice “in the place of” + cessim “giving way,“ adverbial derivative of cēdere “to go, proceed”) + -i- -i- + -tūdō -tude; see also vice ³

Explanation

When you talk of the vicissitudes of life, you're referring to the difficult times that we all go through: sickness, job loss, and other unwelcome episodes. No one can escape the vicissitudes of life. While vicissitude comes from the Latin vicis, which means "change" and technically can mean a change of any kind, you'll find that vicissitude is almost always used to talk about an unfortunate event or circumstance. Losing a pet, crashing the car, being called in for jury duty: these are examples of vicissitudes — chapters in one's life that one would rather avoid but must get through. Some lives have more vicissitudes than others, to be sure, but no life is without events that test and challenge us.

Example Sentences

Another Frenchman, the classical scholar, Louis Le Roy, translator of Plato and Aristotle, put forward similar views in a work of less celebrity, On the Vicissitude or Variety of the Things in the Universe.

From The Idea of Progress An inguiry into its origin and growth by Bury, J. B. (John Bagnell)

It is frequently objected to Relations of particular Lives, that they are not distinguished by any striking or wonderful Vicissitude.

From The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two Rambler papers (1750) by Johnson, Samuel

They take their Turns with so quick a Vicissitude, that neither becomes a Habit, or takes Possession of the whole Man; nor is it possible he should be surfeited with either.

From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph

After some Time however, the same Scene is repeated; and this Vicissitude, or Succession, of moderate and of bad Health, often continues for some Months and even some Years.

From Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health by Tissot, S. A. D. (Samuel Auguste David)

Vicissitude Had left these tinkling to the invaders' ear, And ravaged street, and smoldering gable-end.

From New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 2, May, 1915 April-September, 1915 by Various

Related Words

• fluctuation
• permutation