VICAR

vicar

(noun) a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman

vicar

(noun) (Church of England) a clergyman appointed to act as priest of a parish

vicar

(noun) (Episcopal Church) a clergyman in charge of a chapel

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

vicar (plural vicars)

In the Church of England, the priest of a parish, receiving a salary or stipend but not tithes.

In the Roman Catholic and some other churches, a cleric acting as local representative of a higher ranking member of the clergy.

A person acting on behalf of, or representing, another person.

Anagrams

• Virac, vraic

Source: Wiktionary

Vic"ar, n. Etym: [OE. vicar, viker, vicair, F. vicaire, fr. L. vicarius. See Vicarious.]

1. One deputed or authorized to perform the functions of another; a substitute in office; a deputy. [R.]

2. (Eng. Eccl. Law)

Definition: The incumbent of an appropriated benefice.

Note: The distinction between a parson [or rector] and vicar is this: The parson has, for the most part, the whole right to the ecclesiastical dues in his parish; but a vicar has generally an appropriator over him, entitled to the best part of the profits, to whom he is in fact perpetual curate with a standing salary. Burrill. Apostolic vicar, or Vicar apostolic. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A bishop to whom the Roman pontiff delegates a portion of his jurisdiction. (b) Any ecclesiastic acting under a papal brief, commissioned to exercise episcopal authority. (c) A titular bishop in a country where there is no episcopal see, or where the succession has been interrupted.

– Vicar forane. Etym: [Cf. LL. foraneus situated outside of the episcopal city, rural. See Vicar, and Foreign.] (R. C. Ch.) A dignitary or parish priest appointed by a bishop to exercise a limited jurisdiction in a particular town or district of a diocese. Addis & Arnold.

– Vicar-general. (a) (Ch. of Eng.) The deputy of the Archbishop of Canterbury or York, in whose court the bishops of the province are confirmed. Encyc. Brit. (b) (R. C. Ch.) An assistant to a bishop in the discharge of his official functions.

– Vicar of Jesus Christ (R. C. Ch.), the pope as representing Christ on earth.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition