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vicar

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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.

See vicar in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

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

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

Related Forms:

vicarship noun

See vicar in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun Abbr. Vic.

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.
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

Related Forms: