O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis; vita detestabilis nunc obdurat et tunc curat ludo mentis aciem, egestatem, potestatem dissolvit ut glaciem.

These words from the 13th-century poem “Carmina Burana” express humanity’s eternal frustration at the vicissitudes of life: those ups and downs you can’t predict or control, from the hurricane that flattens your house to the winning lottery ticket that allows you to buy new home in St. Tropez. Fortuna was the Roman goddess of luck, and we get the word vicissitude from the Latin word vicis, meaning “change, turn.” In general, this noun is used in its plural form vicissitudes to describe a change that happens more or less regularly, or that is part of a cycle, and often refers to something that has changed for the worse.

Example 1: Andrew hasn’t found a new position since he was laid off, but rather than updating his resume and job skills, he just complains about the vicissitudes of the current economy and sits at home playing video games.

Example 2: I’d like to plant lemon and orange trees in my garden, but the vicissitudes of the weather in this part of the country would leave them vulnerable to sudden freezes.

If you’re feeling like you’re not making any progress on your English vocabulary study lately, just keep practicing, and you’ll soon see the results of your efforts. Remember, an excellent English vocabulary will give you the skills and abilities you need to weather any change in your fortunes.

“O Fortune, like the moon you are ever changing, always waxing or waning; this hateful life is first brutal to us, and then pampers us, on a whim; it melts both poverty and power like ice.”