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surrogate

surrogate definition

sur·ro·gate (sʉr′ə git, -gāt′; for v., -gāt′)

noun

a deputy or substitute
☆ in some states, probate court, or a judge of this court
Psychiatry a substitute figure, esp. a person of some authority, who replaces a father or mother in one's feelings
a woman who, by prior agreement, becomes pregnant and bears a child for another woman, who will raise the child as its mother

Etymology: L surrogatus, pp. of surrogare, to elect in place of another, substitute < sub- (see sub-) + rogare, to ask: see rogation

adjective

of or acting as a surrogate

transitive verb surrogated -·gat′ed, surrogating -·gat′·ing

to put in another's place as a substitute or deputy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.