vicegerent

American  

[vahys-jeer-uhnt] / vaɪsˈdʒɪər ənt /

noun

1. an officer appointed as deputy by and to a sovereign or supreme chief.

2. a deputy in general.

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adjective

1. exercising delegated powers.

2. characterized by delegation of powers.

vicegerent British  

/ ˌvaɪsˈdʒɛrənt /

noun

1. a person appointed to exercise all or some of the authority of another, esp the administrative powers of a ruler; deputy

2. RC Church the Pope or any other representative of God or Christ on earth, such as a bishop

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adjective

1. invested with or characterized by delegated authority

Other Word Forms

• vicegeral adjective
• vicegerency noun

Etymology

Origin of vicegerent

1530–40; < New Latin vicegerent- (stem of vicegerēns managing instead of ), equivalent to Latin vice ( vice ³ ) + gerent- (stem of gerēns, present participle of gerere to carry on, conduct); -ent

Example Sentences

The vicegerent of the vicariate of Rome splashed the stone with holy water.

From Time Magazine Archive

They were the years when Coolidge said of war debts, "They hired the money," when Charles Dawes was Coolidge's vicegerent in Europe, wearing laurels won with the Dawes Plan.

From Time Magazine Archive

Brother Peter de Montaigu, humble Master of the soldiers of Christ, to our vicegerent and beloved brother in Christ, Alan Marcel, Preceptor of England.

From The History of the Knights Templars, the Temple Church, and the Temple by Addison, Charles G.

The vicegerent of Abdalmalik had treated them harshly.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1 "Calhoun" to "Camoens" by Various

The influence of Nippur had waned before that of Eridu, and out of Eridu had risen a culture-god whose son and vicegerent was the sun.

From The Religions of Ancient Egypt and Babylonia by Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry)

Related Words

• pontiff