vicissitude

[ vi-sis-i-tood, -tyood ]

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.

vicissitude

/ 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

Derived Forms

• viˌcissiˈtudinary, adjective

Other Words From

• vi·cissi·tudi·nous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vicissitude¹

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; vice ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of vicissitude¹

C16: from Latin vicissitūdō, from vicis change, alternation

Example Sentences

Whoever has this knowledge can place in a wider framework the terrible vicissitudes of the present, giving sense to suffering, helping us to overcome even the most terrible tragedies.

From Nautilus

As one wise woman, who has lived through many a cultural and social vicissitude, said of the good old days, circa 1995.

From The Daily Beast

The writer of these lines confesses to an affection for Washington, which no vicissitude of life or time can alienate.

From Project Gutenberg

Such is the vicissitude of human affairs, that within a few years many strange mutations occur, even in places of no great extent.

From Project Gutenberg

Arsne Lupin was present at certain family conferences when this new vicissitude was discussed.

From Project Gutenberg

It is kept in good repair through every vicissitude of rule, for it is a holy place to Moslem and Jew and Christian alike.

From Project Gutenberg

When by vicissitude of season the seaward species are poor in volatile oil, then the scrub is rich, and vice vers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fluctuation
• permutation