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
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
1 June 2025
(verb) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; “Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble”; “the political movie backlashed on the Democrats”
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
