Wiktionary

vice versa

See also: viceversa, vice-versa, and vice versâ

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Latin ablative absolute vice versā (“the position having been reversed”), from feminine third declension noun vicis (“arrangement, order, position, etc.”) + feminine ablative singular of perfect passive participle versus, from vertō (“I turn, I reverse”).

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈvaɪsɪ ˈvɜːsə/, /ˈvaɪsə-/, /vaɪs-/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈvaɪsi ˈvɝsə/, /ˈvaɪsə-/, /vaɪs-/, enPR: vīʹsē vûrʹsə, vīʹsə-, vīs-

Some speakers regard the pronunciations where "vice" has one syllable as less correct than the others, whereas other speakers regard the pronunciations with two syllables as less correct.

Adverb

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vice versa (not comparable)

  1. (generally after or) The same but with the two items mentioned reversed.
    Since there are two contestants left in the race, either Bob will come first place and Alice second place, or vice versa.

Usage notes

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  • The adverb is the last element in the clause specifying the two elements whose roles can be switched, and is preceded by the conjunction and or or. Rarely, in English writing, and is replaced by the Latin conjunction et, similar to “et cetera”:
    • 1842, A. Taylor, “On the Curative Influence of the Climate of Pau, and the Mineral Waters of the Pyrénées, on Disease, &c.”, in The Lancet‎[1], volume II, page 885:
      […] we are convinced, from considerable experience and observation, that the class of diseases described by Sir James as unsuited to the climate of Pau, et vice versâ […]
    • 1881, E. Abbe, “On the Conditions of Orthoscopic and Pseudoscopic Effects in the Binocular Microscope”, in Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society‎[2], volume I, page 208:
      Therefore, any projection which affords right-eye perspective in regard to the solid image of the Microscope, will always afford right-eye perspective in regard to the object likewise, et vice versâ.
    • 1894, James Alwis, Terms of Address and modes of Salutation in use amongst the Singhalese‎[3], volume III, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, page 222:
      […] terms of regard or attachment used frequently amongst the lower classes  : the first by husbands towards their wives et vice versa, and by ordained priests towards their Samanera pupils […]

Synonyms

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Translations

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Danish

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Etymology

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From Latin vice versā (“the position having been reversed”).

Adverb

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vice versa

  1. vice versa
    Synonym: omvendt

Dutch

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Etymology

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From Latin vice versā.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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vice versa

  1. vice versa
    Synonyms: omgekeerd, andersom
    Als je het raam open doet, moet je de verwarming uit doen, en vice versa.
    If you open the window, you should turn off the heating, and vice versa.

French

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Pronunciation

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Adverb

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vice versa

  1. vice versa

Interlingua

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Etymology

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From Latin vice versā.

Adverb

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vice versa

  1. vice versa

Polish

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Etymology

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Unadapted borrowing from Latin vice versā.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

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vice versa (not comparable)

  1. vice versa

Further reading

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  • vice versa in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
  • vice versa in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

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Adverb

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vice versa (not comparable)

  1. Alternative spelling of vice-versa

Swedish

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Etymology

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From Latin vice versā.

Adverb

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vice versa (not comparable)

  1. vice versa
    Synonym: omvänt
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