Vez (Spanish for “turn (in a line/queue)”, as in “next in line”) comes from the Latin for the same: vicis.
From this root vicis we get a few English words, including:
- Vice-Versa — with versa (“against”), so this literally means, “it’s your turn against him!”
- Vicissitude — thought about this way, vicissitudes are really just people taking turns back and forth, right?
- Vice — as in “Vice President”. He whose turn is next!
- Vicarious — it’s someone else’s turn instead of yours!
- Vicar — he’s really just the guy whose turn it is to substitute for the real priest!
The v‑c root is visible in all variations.
