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.
- a church officer acting as a deputy of a bishop
- 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