vicar
Other forms: vicars
A vicar is a member of the clergy who is not high-ranking but is still considered a holy representative of the church.
Vicars are set slightly below the official head of a congregation or parish, sometimes acting as an agent or substitute clergyman. Originally considered an earthly go-between for man and God, the meaning of the word moved diminished as the vicar became sort of a "deputy" priest or parson. You can find a vicar in the Church of England, and also in the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches. Consider that "vicarious" means something taking another's place — that's what a vicar does.
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a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergymantype of:priesta clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
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(Church of England) a clergyman appointed to act as priest of a parishtype of:clergyman, man of the cloth, reverenda member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of a Christian church
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(Episcopal Church) a clergyman in charge of a chapeltype of:clergyman, man of the cloth, reverenda member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of a Christian church
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Vocabulary lists containing vicar
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