— vicissitudinous , adj.
/vi sis"i toohd', -tyoohd'/ , n.
1. a change or variation occurring in the course of something.
2. interchange or alternation, as of states or things.
3. 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.
4. regular change or succession of one state or thing to another.
5. change; mutation; mutability.
[ 1560-70; vicissitudo, equiv. to viciss ( im ) in turn (perh. by syncope vice-cessim; vice in the place of (see VICE 3 ) + cessim giving way, adv. deriv. of cedere to go, proceed) + -i- -I- -tudo -TUDE ]