vicissitude
Definitions
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VICISSITUDES OF A RISING PERIODICAL -
WordNet 3.6
- n vicissitude mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another)
- n vicissitude a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something "the project was subject to the usual vicissitudes of exploratory research"
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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- Vicissitude Changing conditions of fortune in one's life; life's ups and downs. "This man had, after many vicissitudes of fortune, sunk at last into abject and hopeless poverty."
- Vicissitude Irregular change; revolution; mutation.
- Vicissitude Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange. "God made two great lights . . . To illuminate the earth and rule the day
In their vicissitude , and rule the night." - ***
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
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- n vicissitude Regular change or succession of one thing to another; alternation.
- n vicissitude A passing from one state or condition to another; irregular change; revolution; mutation: as, the vicissitudes of fortune.
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Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
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- n Vicissitude vi-sis′i-tūd change from one thing to another: change: revolution
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Quotations
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“It is in the gift for employing all the vicissitudes of life to one's own advantage and to that of one's craft that a large part of genius consists.” -
“Old age is not a disease -- it is strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trials and illnesses.” -
“Happy the man who can endure the highest and the lowest fortune. He, who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity, has deprived misfortune of its power.” -
“Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.”
Etymology
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
L. vicissitudo, fr. vicis, change, turn: cf. F. vicissitude,. See Vicarious
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
L. vicissitudo—vicis, change.
Usage
In literature:
Amongst all the vicissitudes of Irish politics our friendship was an unbroken one.
"The Life Story of an Old Rebel" by John Denvir
This vicissitude is so observable, that it would be unnecessary to dwell upon it were it, =sic= not of such infinite importance.
"An Inquiry into the Permanent Causes of the Decline and Fall of Powerful and Wealthy Nations." by William Playfair
Hilary believed in gentle birth; through all his vicissitudes a pathetic pride of breeding clung to him.
"The Lee Shore" by Rose Macaulay
The lion, which is of bronze with white agates for his eyes, has known many vicissitudes.
"A Wanderer in Venice" by E.V. Lucas
Such are the vicissitudes of life.
"Americans and Others" by Agnes Repplier
Rhoda lunched on the tortillas to which Molly had clung through all the vicissitudes of flight.
"The Heart of the Desert" by Honoré Willsie Morrow
Such are the vicissitudes of Camp life.
"Woman's Endurance" by A.D.L.
I take my pen to record the strange vicissitudes through which I have passed within a few days.
"Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons" by Arabella W. Stuart
The Warrens got their estates in the days of "Strongbow," and held them through all the vicissitudes of olden Ireland.
"Greenwich Village" by Anna Alice Chapin
Christianity had passed through strange vicissitudes.
"A Short History of France" by Mary Platt Parmele
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In poetry:
'The sad vicissitudes of life
Long have I learn'd to bear;
But oh! my daughter, thou art new
To sorrow and to care!
Long have I learn'd to bear;
But oh! my daughter, thou art new
To sorrow and to care!
"A Tale" by John Logan
How many weary centuries has it been
About those deserts blown!
How many strange vicissitudes has seen,
How many histories known!
About those deserts blown!
How many strange vicissitudes has seen,
How many histories known!
"By The Fireside : Sand Of The Desert In An Hour-Glass" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Through life's strange vicissitude,
There reposing all my care;
Trusting still through ill and good,
Fixed, and cheered, and counselled there.
There reposing all my care;
Trusting still through ill and good,
Fixed, and cheered, and counselled there.
"God's Paternal Care" by John Bowring
Hark! What is that we hear?
A quick—jerked, jocund peal,
Making the fretted church tower reel,
Telling the wakeful of a young New Year,
Young, but of lusty birth,
To face the masked vicissitudes of earth.
A quick—jerked, jocund peal,
Making the fretted church tower reel,
Telling the wakeful of a young New Year,
Young, but of lusty birth,
To face the masked vicissitudes of earth.
"A Farewell" by Alfred Austin
In all the sorrows that o'erwhelm us here
God's kindness and His care
Are ever beaming brightly. Good for man
The end of every plan
And every purpose. Woe, in scenes like this,
Moves through vicissitude to perfect bliss.
God's kindness and His care
Are ever beaming brightly. Good for man
The end of every plan
And every purpose. Woe, in scenes like this,
Moves through vicissitude to perfect bliss.
"Comfort in God's Goodness" by John Bowring
And, keeping steadfast in his view,
That bright, sublime, and awful goal,
Moves all life's course serenely through,
With humble heart and grateful soul;
And gathers from vicissitude
Virtue and strength, and joy and good.
That bright, sublime, and awful goal,
Moves all life's course serenely through,
With humble heart and grateful soul;
And gathers from vicissitude
Virtue and strength, and joy and good.
"The Grave no Terror to the Virtuous" by John Bowring
In news:
A discussion about the vicissitudes of aging led a friend of mine to say, "There are three stages of life — youth, middle age and, "You're looking good.
ANDREW MELLON COLLECTION Rembrandt 's 1659 self-portrait depicts the artist as battered but proud, even defiant in the face of life's vicissitudes.
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In science:
Zeno himself had experienced all treacherous vicissitudes of life.
Zeno meets modern science
There you have it, every vicissitude overcome, every barrier gone over as well as either through or around, with impressive ingenuity, range and resourcefulness.
Book Review of Stephen L. Adler's, "Quantum theory as an emergent phenomenon."
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