English Meaning & Definitions
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
- “She endured the vicissitudes of fortune with remarkable grace and resilience.”
- “The historic estate fell into ruin over the centuries due to the vicissitudes of war and economic hardship.”
Alternation between opposite or different things.
- “The cyclical vicissitudes of the seasons remind us of nature's constant transformation.”
- “Economic analysts study the market's vicissitudes to predict future trends.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “vicissitude”.
Derived from the Latin 'vicissitudo', meaning 'change' or 'alternation', stemming from 'vicis', meaning 'turn', 'change', or 'succession' (as in taking turns). It entered the English language in the mid-16th century to describe the natural shifts and changes in human life or circumstances.
Think of 'vissi' sounding like 'visit'—life visits you with unexpected changes and turns.
Frequently Asked Questions About “vicissitude”
1. What is the meaning of “vicissitude” in English?
In English, vicissitude (noun) is defined as: “A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.”.
2. How do you use “vicissitude” in a sentence?
“She endured the vicissitudes of fortune with remarkable grace and resilience.”
3. What are English synonyms of “vicissitude”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “vicissitude”?
Derived from the Latin 'vicissitudo', meaning 'change' or 'alternation', stemming from 'vicis', meaning 'turn', 'change', or 'succession' (as in taking turns). It entered the English language in the mid-16th century to describe the natural shifts and changes in human life or circumstances.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.