vicissitude

[ vi-sis-i-tood, -tyood ]
/ vɪˈsɪs ɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR vicissitude ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a change or variation occurring in the course of something.
interchange or alternation, as of states or things.
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.
regular change or succession of one state or thing to another.
change; mutation; mutability.

Origin of vicissitude

1560–70; < Latin vicissitūdō, equivalent to viciss(im) in turn (perhaps by syncope < *vice-cessim; vice in the place of (see vice3) + cessim giving way, adv. derivative of cēdere to go, proceed) + -i- -i- -tūdō -tude

OTHER WORDS FROM vicissitude

vi·cis·si·tu·di·nous, adjective

Words nearby vicissitude

vicinage, vicinal, vicinity, vicious, vicious circle, vicissitude, vick, vickers, vickers number, vicksburg, vicky

Words related to vicissitudes

fluctuation, permutation, revolution, diversity, progression, variety, shift, uncertainty, novelty, alteration, variation, switch, turnaround, mutation, reversal, innovation, flip-flop, sport, about-face, alternation

Example sentences from the Web for vicissitudes

British Dictionary definitions for vicissitudes

vicissitude
/ (vɪˈsɪsɪˌtjuːd) /

noun

variation or mutability in nature or life, esp successive alternation from one condition or thing to another
a variation in circumstance, fortune, character, etc

Derived forms of vicissitude

vicissitudinary or vicissitudinous, adjective

Word Origin for vicissitude

C16: from Latin vicissitūdō, from vicis change, alternation