In Jiang's speech, he noted, 'People of my age have all experienced the VICISSITUDES of the current century.
(Weimin, Chang, Warm Talks Bring Two Nations Closer, China Daily, 21st Oct. 1999)"
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vicissitudes
Wordwise: from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim, in turn, probably from vices, pl. of vix, change.
Note that we always use this word in the plural:
"Happy is the man who can endure the highest and the lowest fortune. He, who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity, has deprived misfortune of its power." Seneca