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viceroy

[vahys-roi]
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noun
  1. a person appointed to rule a country or province as the deputy of the sovereign: the viceroy of India.
  2. a brightly marked American butterfly, Limenitis archippus, closely mimicking the monarch butterfly in coloration.
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Origin of viceroy

1515–25; < Middle French, equivalent to vice- vice- + roy king < Latin rēgem, accusative of rēx
Related formsvice·roy·ship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

nabob, representative, governor, satrap

Examples from the Web for viceroy

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The Viceroy was stealthily reaching for the sun-tube dangling from his belt.

    Slaves of Mercury

    Nat Schachner

  • "I don't know," the Viceroy said shortly, working the gag out of his mouth.

    Slaves of Mercury

    Nat Schachner

  • "It is too late for bargains now," the Viceroy shrugged indifferently.

    Slaves of Mercury

    Nat Schachner

  • For all his bulk, the Viceroy wheeled on his flank, raised his weapon.

    Slaves of Mercury

    Nat Schachner

  • The Viceroy turned suddenly, stared at them, fingering his tube.

    Slaves of Mercury

    Nat Schachner

British Dictionary definitions for viceroy

viceroy

noun
  1. a governor of a colony, country, or province who acts for and rules in the name of his sovereign or governmentRelated adjective: viceregal
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Derived Formsviceroyship, noun

Word Origin

C16: from French, from vice ³ + roy king, from Latin rex
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for viceroy

n.

person ruling as representative of a sovereign, 1520s, from Middle French vice-roy, from Old French vice- "deputy" (see vice-) + roi "king," from Latin regem (nominative rex); see rex. The species of American butterfly so called from 1881.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper