SuaviloquyToday’s word

vicissitude

Vicissitude, n.

Etymology: [L. vicissitudo, fr. vicis change, turn: cf. F. vicissitude. See Vicarious.]

1. 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. Milton.

2. Irregular change; revolution; mutation. This man had, after many vicissitudes of fortune, sunk at last into abject and hopeless poverty. Macaulay.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for vicissitude; he lists it under change.

Where he writes about it:

Vicissitude is sharp, sudden, or violent change, always thought of as surprising and often as disturbing or distressing; as, the vicissitudes of politics. — from change

Synonyms

changealterationconversiondiversityinnovationmutationnoveltyregenerationrenewalrenewingrevolutiontransformationtransitiontransmutationvariationvariety

Antonyms

constancycontinuancefirmnessfixednessfixityidentityinvariabilitypermanencepersistencesteadinessunchangeablenessuniformity

etymologyWebster’s online