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

Other Word Forms

• vicissitudinous adjective
• vicissitudinary 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

FDR saw Social Security as protection against ‘the hazards and vicissitudes of life,’ as he put it in signing the Social Security Act 90 years ago this week.

From Los Angeles Times

He treasures that trait even as he has hidden it beneath armor to avoid “being too badly mauled by the vicissitudes of life.”

From Los Angeles Times

Such vicissitudes contributed to what had been previously unthinkable - splitting with Mike Walker, his coach and confidante since Fitzpatrick's mid teens.

From BBC

Betting on the vicissitudes of age is unwise, as well.

From Salon

A home is first and foremost a shelter designed to protect from the vicissitudes of nature.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fluctuation 
• permutation