vicar

American  

[vik-er] / ˈvɪk ər /

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.

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vicar British  

/ 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 called: lay vicar.   vicar 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

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Other Word Forms

• subvicar noun
• subvicarship noun
• undervicar noun
• vicarly adjective
• vicarship noun

Etymology

Origin of vicar

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

Example Sentences

A former asylum seeking doctor is to retrain as a vicar in the hope of helping others.

From BBC

Once on board, they were married by Paul, a former vicar who now works on the trains - which was decorated with everything you'd expect to see at a wedding.

From BBC

"I got a message from my vicar saying we have been praying for you to meet a Bruce Willis look-a-like," Penny says.

From BBC

A celebrity vicar turned amateur detective to help solve the mystery of a porcelain ornament that turned up 35 years after it was stolen.

From BBC

Many of them, including the local vicar, came to support her at her sentencing hearing.

From BBC

Related Words

• pastor