Vicissitude

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /vɪˈsɪs.ɪˌt(j)uːd/

Definitions

1. A fluctuation in one’s life circumstances or fortune, commonly perceived as negative
2. A sequence of changing situations or fortunes, illustrating life’s inherent unpredictability
3. An unforeseen change in a person's situation or fortune that alters their life ; a repeated switching between varying states, emphasizing the unpredictability of life

Etymology: The Latin "vicis" meant "change" or "turn," and it survives in a surprising place: Portuguese "vez" and French "fois," both meaning "time" as in "next time" or "one time," descend from the same root. So when a Portuguese speaker says "uma vez," they are, etymologically, speaking of a turn of events. "Vicissitude" grew from "vicissim," meaning "on the other hand" or "in turn," a word built around that idea of alternation. Latin writers used "vicissitudo" for the rhythm of things coming around in turn: the cycle of day and night, the seasons, the rise and fall of fortunes. Middle French took the word over as "vicissitude," and English borrowed it from there. The English sense narrowed over time. The word no longer describes neutral cycling but mostly the unwelcome swings of life, the reversals that leave a person worse off than before. The plural "vicissitudes" is the form most often used, pointing to the many ups and downs that make up a life.

Synonyms: change, fluctuation, alteration, transition, variation

Antonyms: stability, steadiness, constancy, uniformity, continuity