| 释义 |
vicissitude|vɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd|
[a. OF. and F. vicissitude (14th c.), or ad. L. vicissitūdo, f. vicis turn, change: see vice n.6 and vice-. 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.
1570–6Lambarde Peramb. Kent 105 Richeborowe..came to ruine, by the alteration and vicissitude of the Sea. 1625Bacon Ess., Vicissitude of Things (Arb.) 570 The Vicissitude or Mutations, in the Superiour Globe, are no fit Matter, for this present Argument. 1640G. Sandys Christ's Passion iii. 268 O dire Vicissitude of Things! 1654Bramhall Just Vind. vi. (1661) 115 According to the Vicissitude and conversion of humane affairs, and the change of Monarchies. 1690Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxvi. 153 The notice, that our Senses take of the constant Vicissitude of Things. 1720Welton 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. 1773Cook 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. 1864Pusey 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.
1631Weever Anc. Fun. Mon. 3 Of all things else there is a vicissitude, a change both of cities and nations. 1643Sir 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. 1753Johnson Adventurer No. 95 ⁋5 There is likewise in composition, as in other things, a perpetual vicissitude of fashion. 1772Birmingham 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.
1596Drayton Legends iv. 757 Vicissitude impartially will'd The goodlyest things be subject to annoy. 1603Holland 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. 1654Whitlock Zootomia 32 The Sisters Web of our lives is checkered with Vicissitude, The whole peece proving but a medley of Light and Shadow. a1664K. Philips Submission Poems (1667) 108 Where were our Springs, our Harvests pleasent use, Unless Vicissitude did them produce. 1758Johnson Idler No. 4 ⁋11 Whatever is left in the hands of chance must be subject to vicissitude. 1781Cowper Hope 17 Vicissitude wheels round the motley crowd, The rich grow poor, the poor become purse-proud. 1833–5J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. Ser. iii. (1873) i. 1 This is a world of conflict, and of vicissitude amid the conflict. 1869J. 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.
1616B. Jonson Devil an Ass ii. iv. 38 Nature hath these vicissitudes. Shee makes No man a state of perpetuety, Sir. 1665Manley 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. 1681J. Flavel Right. Man's Ref. 220 His people may find..rest and comfort amidst the vicissitudes of this unstable world. 1709Steele Tatler No. 41 ⁋4 A deplorable instance of the Fortune of War, and Vicissitudes of humane Affairs. 1794Godwin Caleb Williams 314 Mr. Collins promised, as far as he was able, to have an eye upon my vicissitudes. 1832Lyell Princ. Geol. II. 1 We shall treat first of the vicissitudes to which species are subject. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. xxviii. 281 My sturdy second officer,..long accustomed to the vicissitudes of whaling life, shed tears at the prospect. 1879Church 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.
1624Burton 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? 1646Sir 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. 1667Milton P.L. vi. 8 Which makes through Heav'n Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night. 1689tr. Locke's Let. Toleration 26 How the Church was under the Vicissitude of Orthodox and Arrian Emperors is very well known. 1711Steele Spect. No. 143 ⁋1 This Vicissitude of Motion and Rest, which we call Life. 1740Cibber Apol. (1756) I. 323 When I consider that various vicissitude of hopes and fears we had for twenty years struggled with. 1773Ld. Monboddo Language (1774) I. i. ix. 111 Corporeal forms which are..in a constant vicissitude of generation and corruption. 1835Thirlwall Greece I. vi. 219 The succession of light and darkness,..the vicissitude of the seasons. 1854Mrs. 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.
1648Wilkins Math. Magic ii. v. 183 How those vicissitudes of rarefaction and condensation may be maintained. 1692Bentley Boyle Lect. vi. 180 The periodical and constant Vicissitudes of Day and Night. 1718Prior Solomon ii. 832 What Pangs, what Fires, what Racks didst Thou sustain? What sad Vicissitudes of smarting Pain? 1747T. Story Life, etc. 86, I kept close to Meetings, and to Business, in their proper Vicissitudes. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. (1787) II. 6 The vicissitudes of tides are scarcely felt in those seas. 1822–7Good Study Med. (1829) III. 352 Extreme heat and cold..are far more injurious when flowing in irregular vicissitudes, than when in an uniform tenour. 1853Phillips Rivers Yorksh. iii. 90 The surface influence of descending rains, and all the agency of atmospheric vicissitudes. 1893Ball Story of Sun 319 There must have been remarkable climatic vicissitudes during past ages.
†6. Reciprocation, return. Obs.—1
1565Testimonial 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
1605Bacon 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.
1749G. 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. |