vicar-general
[vik-er-jen-er-uh l]
- Roman Catholic Church. a priest deputized by a bishop to assist him in the administration of a diocese.
- Church of England. an ecclesiastical officer, usually a layperson, who assists a bishop or an archbishop in the discharge of his judicial or administrative duties.
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Origin of vicar-general
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for vicar-general
Historical Examples
They looked like a gorgeous escort attending the Vicar-General.
Nostromo: A Tale of the SeaboardJoseph Conrad
I found Gama in conversation with the auditor sent by the Vicar-General.
The Memoires of Casanova, CompleteJacques Casanova de Seingalt
Various nuns were reprimanded or punished in 1527 by the vicar-general.
Bell's Cathedrals: A Short Account of Romsey AbbeyThomas Perkins
The Vicar-General of Paris receives no more than 4,500 francs a year.
France and the RepublicWilliam Henry Hurlbert
It is composed of a provisor and vicar-general, with his notary-in-chief and fiscals.