VICARIOUS

vicarious

(adjective) suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another; “vicarious atonement”

vicarious

(adjective) occurring in an abnormal part of the body instead of the usual site involved in that function; “vicarious menstruation”

vicarious

(adjective) experienced at secondhand; “read about mountain climbing and felt vicarious excitement”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

vicarious (not comparable)

Delegated.

Experienced or gained by taking in another person’s experience, rather than through first-hand experience, such as through watching or reading.

On behalf of others.

Source: Wiktionary


Vi*ca"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. vicarius, from vicis change, alternation, turn, the position, place, or office of one person as assumed by another; akin to Gr. wechsel a change, and probably also to E. weak. See Weak, and cf. Vice, prep.]

1. Of or pertaining to a vicar, substitute, or deputy; deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.

2. Acting of suffering for another; as, a vicarious agent or officer. The soul in the body is but a subordinate efficient, and vicarious . . . in the hands of the Almighty. Sir M. Hale.

3. Performed of suffered in the place of another; substituted; as, a vicarious sacrifice; vicarious punishment. The vicarious work of the Great Deliverer. I. Taylor.

4. (Med.)

Definition: Acting as a substitute; -- said of abnormal action which replaces a suppressed normal function; as, vicarious hemorrhage replacing menstruation.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

2 February 2025

BACK

(adverb) at or to or toward the back or rear; “he moved back”; “tripped when he stepped backward”; “she looked rearward out the window of the car”


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Coffee Trivia

Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.

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