vicar

The definition of a vicar is a religious official who acts in place of another, or the priest of a Church of England parish, or a minister in charge of an Episcopalian chapel in the United States.

(noun)

A priest who acts for a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church is an example of a vicar.

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See vicar in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a person who acts in place of another; deputy
  2. Anglican Ch. a parish priest who is not a rector and receives a stipend instead of the tithes
  3. Episcopal Ch. a minister in charge of a chapel
  4. R.C.Ch.
    1. a church officer acting as a deputy of a bishop
    2. the pope, regarded as earthly representative of Christ

Origin: ME < OFr vicaire < L vicarius, orig., vicarious < *vix (gen. vicis), a change, alteration < IE *weik-, to bend, change: see weak

Related Forms:

See vicar in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun Abbr. Vic.
  1. a. The priest of a parish in the Church of England who receives a stipend or salary but does not receive the tithes of a parish.
    b. A cleric in charge of a chapel in the Episcopal Church of the United States.
    c. A cleric acting in the place of a rector or bishop in the Anglican Communion generally.
  2. Roman Catholic Church A priest who acts for or represents another, often higher-ranking member of the clergy.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French vicaire

Origin: , from Latin vicārius, vicarious, a substitute

Origin: , from vicis

Origin: , genitive of *vix, change; see weik-2 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • vicˈar·shipˌ noun

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