[a. OF. and F. vicissitude (14th c.), or ad. L. vicissitūdo, f. vicis turn, change: see VICE sb.6 and prefix. So Sp. vicisitud, Pg. vicissitude, It. vicissitudine.]
1. The fact of change or mutation taking place in a particular thing or within a certain sphere; the uncertain changing or mutability of something.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent, 105. Richeborowe … came to ruine, by the alteration and vicissitude of the Sea.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Vicissitude of Things (Arb.), 570. The Vicissitude or Mutations, in the Superiour Globe, are no fit Matter, for this present Argument.
1640. G. Sandys, Christ’s Passion, III. 268. O dire Vicissitude of Things!
1654. Bramhall, Just Vind., vi. (1661), 115. According to the Vicissitude and conversion of humane affairs, and the change of Monarchies.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxvi. 153. The notice, that our Senses take of the constant Vicissitude of Things.
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, II. xxv. 659. Take Compassion of the Fleeting Inconstancy and Vicissitude of the Dangers with which we, poor Mortals, are surrounded.
1773. Cook, Voy., III. vii. III. 606. And now, such is the vicissitude of life, we thought ourselves happy in having regained a situation, which but two days before it was the utmost object of our hope to quit.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel, ii. 61. It is remarkable that this vicissitude of human things, this marked outline of the succession of Empires till our Lord should come, is laid open … to the Heathen Monarch.
b. With a, in the same sense.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 3. Of all things else there is a vicissitude, a change both of cities and nations.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 17. Because the glory of one State depends upon the ruine of another, there is a revolution and vicissitude of their greatnesse.
1753. Johnson, Adventurer, No. 95, ¶ 5. There is likewise in composition, as in other things, a perpetual vicissitude of fashion.
1772. Birmingham Counterfeit, II. viii. 106. Her history … abounds with such an amazing vicissitude of incidents.
2. Without article: Change, mutation, mutability, as a natural process or tendency in things or in life generally; successive substitution of one thing or condition for another, taking place from natural causes.
1596. Drayton, Legends, iv. 757. Vicissitude impartially will’d The goodlyest things be subject to annoy.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1310. He endeavoreth by vicissitude of mutations, and by periodicall passion, to continue alwaies yoong, as if he should never die and perish.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 32. The Sisters Web of our lives is checkered with Vicissitude, The whole peece proving but a medley of Light and Shadow.
a. 1664. Kath. Philips, Submission, Poems (1667), 108. Where were our Springs, our Harvests pleasent use, Unless Vicissitude did them produce.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 4, ¶ 11. Whatever is left in the hands of chance must be subject to vicissitude.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 17. Vicissitude wheels round the motley crowd, The rich grow poor, the poor become purse-proud.
1833–5. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., Ser. III. (1873), i. 1. This is a world of conflict, and of vicissitude amid the conflict.
1869. J. Phillips, Vesuvius, vii. 197. On such a fault-line atmospheric vicissitude has been effective.
3. A change or alteration in condition or fortune; an instance of mutability in human affairs.
1616. B. Jonson, Devil an Ass, II. iv. 38. Nature hath these vicissitudes. Shee makes No man a state of perpetuety, Sir.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 429. That the vicissitudes of War should be brought to a stay, if equall Counsels should be found on both sides.
1681. J. Flavel, Right. Man’s Ref., 220. His people may find … rest and comfort amidst the vicissitudes of this unstable world.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 41, ¶ 4. A deplorable instance of the Fortune of War, and Vicissitudes of humane Affairs.
1794. Godwin, Caleb Williams, 314. Mr. Collins promised, as far as he was able, to have an eye upon my vicissitudes.
1832. Lyell, Princ. Geol., II. 1. We shall treat first of the vicissitudes to which species are subject.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxviii. 281. My sturdy second officer,… long accustomed to the vicissitudes of whaling life, shed tears at the prospect.
1879. Church, Spenser, 31. For fifty years the English people had had before its eyes the great vicissitudes which make tragedy.
4. Alternation, mutual or reciprocal succession, of things or conditions; esp. alternating succession of opposite or contrasted things.
1624. Burton, Anat. Mel. (ed. 2), II. ii. III. 211. At Berna … a shippe was digged out of a mountaine…. Came this from Earth-quakes,… or is there a vicissitude of Sea and Land, as Anaximenes held of old?
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 105. Reason cannot conceive that an animall … should live in a continuall motion, without that alternity and vicissitude of rest whereby all others continue.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 8. Which makes through Heav’n Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night.
1689. trans. Locke’s Let. Toleration, 26. How the Church was under the Vicissitude of Orthodox and Arrian Emperors is very well known.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 143, ¶ 1. This Vicissitude of Motion and Rest, which we call Life.
1740. Cibber, Apol. (1756), I. 323. When I consider that various vicissitude of hopes and fears we had for twenty years struggled with.
1773. Monboddo, Language (1774), I. I. ix. 111. Corporeal forms which are … in a constant vicissitude of generation and corruption.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, I. vi. 219. The succession of light and darkness,… the vicissitude of the seasons.
1854. Mrs. Oliphant, Magd. Hepburn, II. 21. Her girlish shyness … made the colour come and go in rapid vicissitude upon her cheek.
5. An instance of alternation or succession; a change from one physical state to another, esp. as one of a constant series.
1648. Wilkins, Math. Magic, II. v. 183. How those vicissitudes of rarefaction and condensation may be maintained.
1692. Bentley, Boyle Lect., vi. 180. The periodical and constant Vicissitudes of Day and Night.
1718. Prior, Solomon, II. 832. What Pangs, what Fires, what Racks didst Thou sustain? What sad Vicissitudes of smarting Pain?
1747. T. Story, Life, etc., 86. I kept close to Meetings, and to Business, in their proper Vicissitudes.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xvii. (1787), II. 6. The vicissitudes of tides are scarcely felt in those seas.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), III. 352. Extreme heat and cold … are far more injurious when flowing in irregular vicissitudes, than when in an uniform tenour.
1853. Phillips, Rivers Yorksh., iii. 90. The surface influence of descending rains, and all the agency of atmospheric vicissitudes.
1893. Sir R. Ball, Story of Sun, 319. There must have been remarkable climatic vicissitudes during past ages.
† 6. Reciprocation, return. Obs.–1
1565. Testimonial to R. Campbell, in Wodrow Soc. Misc. (1844), 288. In doing whairof … so shall you bynd ws to the lik vicissitude.
† 7. A turn or occasion of action. Obs.–1
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vi. § 13. 30. In the next vicissitude or succession, he did send his diuine truth into the world.
† b. By vicissitudes, by turns. Obs.
1749. Lavington, Enthus. Meth. & Papists, II. (1754), 47. The Moravian Mystics are the Persons, whom Mr. Wesley represents by Vicissitudes as the best, and as the worst, of Men.
