vicar

[ vik-er ]

noun

1. Church of England.
   1. a person acting as priest of a parish in place of the rector, or as representative of a religious community to which tithes belong.
   2. the priest of a parish in which tithes were formerly transferred to a religious house, chapter, or layperson, the priest receiving only the smaller tithes or a salary.
2. Protestant Episcopal Church.
   1. a member of the clergy whose sole or chief charge is a chapel dependent on the church of a parish.
   2. a bishop's assistant in charge of a church or mission.
3. Roman Catholic Church. an ecclesiastic representing the pope or a bishop.
4. a person who acts in place of another; substitute.
5. a person who is authorized to perform the functions of another; deputy:

   God's vicar on earth.

vicar

/ ˈvɪkə /

noun

1. Church of England
   1. (in Britain) a clergyman appointed to act as priest of a parish from which, formerly, he did not receive tithes but a stipend
   2. a clergyman who acts as assistant to or substitute for the rector of a parish at Communion
   3. (in the US) a clergyman in charge of a chapel
2. RC Church a bishop or priest representing the pope or the ordinary of a diocese and exercising a limited jurisdiction
3. Also calledlay vicarvicar choral Church of England a member of a cathedral choir appointed to sing certain parts of the services
4. a person appointed to do the work of another

Derived Forms

• ˈvicarly, adjective

Other Word Forms

• vic·ar·ship noun
• sub·vic·ar noun
• sub·vic·ar·ship noun
• un·der·vic·ar noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vicar¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French vicare, vicaire, vikere, from Old French vicaire, from Latin vicārius “a substitute, deputy,” noun use of adjective; vicarious

Word History and Origins

Origin of vicar¹

C13: from Old French vicaire, from Latin vicārius (n) a deputy, from vicārius (adj) vicarious

Example Sentences

She recalled that while discussing careers with a friend at university she had joked about becoming a vicar.

From BBC

"As a parish, as the vicar of the parish and as parishioners, we're custodians of the whole church," said Archdeacon David Pierpoint.

From BBC

Following the sentencing, Monique McKevitt from the Crown Prosecution Service, described the attacks as "gross abuse of trust by a vicar" that traumatised the victim "for many years".

From BBC

The vicar of Hull ended the service with a reading from the bible and the congregation recited the Lord's Prayer as he delivered the final blessing over the coffin.

From BBC

The series was set in the fictional Oxfordshire village of Dibley, which was assigned a female vicar played by Dawn French.

From BBC

Related Words

• pastor