vicissitude

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

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

Example sentences from the Web for vicissitudinous

  • Marriage, the earthly way, is vicissitudinous, for everybody knows that anything is liable to happen to a man at large.

    Humorous Ghost Stories |Dorothy Scarborough

  • Mr. Lumley revived Nino (Nabucco) towards the close of his memorable and vicissitudinous management.

    Verdi: Man and Musician |Frederick James Crowest

British Dictionary definitions for vicissitudinous

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