vicis

Vicis is a Latin noun meaning change, alteration, or turn; it denotes a turn of events, substitution, or exchange within a sequence. In classical Latin, vicis often appears in discussions of fortune, succession, or the ordering of things, capturing the idea that state and arrangement can shift over time.

Etymology and derived terms: The English noun vicissitude derives from Latin vicissitūdō, formed with vicis as its thematic core, and entered English via Late Latin and Old French. Vicissitude denotes successive or alternating changes in circumstance, especially fortunes in life or affairs.

Usage: In English, vicis itself is not common as a stand-alone term; rather, vicissitude is widely used in both literary and scholarly contexts. The conventional expression the vicissitudes of life describes the unpredictable changes people experience over time.

See also: Vicissitude, a general concept of change over time; vicissitudinous, describing something characterized by or subject to change.