Vicar
Vicar (vik"ẽr) , noun
[Old English vicar, viker, vicair, French vicaire, from Latin vicarius. See Vicarious.]
1.
One deputed or authorized to perform the functions of another; a substitute in office; a deputy. [Rare]
2.
(Eng. Ecclesiastical Law) The incumbent of an appropriated benefice.
The distinction between a parson [or rector] and vicar is this: The parson has, for the most part, the whole right to the ecclesiastical dues in his parish; but a vicar has generally an appropriator over him, entitled to the best part of the profits, to whom he is in fact perpetual curate with a standing salary. Burrill.
Collocations (4)
Apostolic vicar or Vicar apostolic (Roman Catholic Church) , (a) A bishop to whom the Roman pontiff delegates a portion of his jurisdiction. (b) Any ecclesiastic acting under a papal brief, commissioned to exercise episcopal authority. (c) A titular bishop in a country where there is no episcopal see, or where the succession has been interrupted.
Vicar forane (Roman Catholic Church) , A dignitary or parish priest appointed by a bishop to exercise a limited jurisdiction in a particular town or district of a diocese. — Addis & Arnold
Vicar-general (Ch. of Eng.) , The deputy of the Archbishop of Canterbury or York, in whose court the bishops of the province are confirmed. — Encyc. Brit An assistant to a bishop in the discharge of his official functions.
Vicar of Jesus Christ (Roman Catholic Church) , the pope as representing Christ on earth.