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

L.A. is definitely changing, but watching Easy navigate its nastier vicissitudes while speaking truth to power is “Farewell, Amethystine’s” — and this enduring series’ — North Star.

From Los Angeles Times

It is, as Major Leonard described it, a common phrase in the Army from soldiers trying to deal with the vicissitudes of Army life.

From Salon

With one notable exception, the sliced off body parts allude to the fragmentary quality of the ancient original, which has lost its head and arms from time’s vicissitudes.

From Los Angeles Times

She scrutinized the vicissitudes of the New York City Ballet as well as the feats of the ballroom-dancing pros and celebrity oafs of the popular TV series, “Dancing With the Stars.”

From New York Times

But the vicissitudes of journalism in the online era caught up with the family.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fluctuation
• permutation