vicars-general

Variant of vicar-general

vicar-general definition

vicar-general (vik′ər jen′ər əl)

noun pl. vicars-general vic′ars-gen′eral

  1. an administrative deputy, as of a bishop or of the general superior of a religious order, society, etc.
  2. in English history, the title given to Thomas Cromwell as vicegerent of Henry VIII

Etymology: ME vicare generale < ML vicarius generalis: see vicar & general

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

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