Vicissitude
/vɪˈsɪs.ɪ.tjuːd/noun
A change or variation, especially one that is unwelcome or unpredictable.
Did you know?Vicissitude comes from Latin vicissitūdō, built from vicis, meaning a turn, change, or succession—so the word itself carries the idea of fate taking its next turn.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weik-
“to bend, turn, or change direction”
Latin
Latin
vicis
“a turn, change, succession, or replacement”
Late Latin
Latin
vicissitūdō
“changeability; alternation; succession”
Middle English
English
vicissitude
“turning point; change of condition”
Modern English
English
vicissitude
“an unwelcome or unpredictable change of circumstances”