The Collaborative International Dictionary
Vicar \Vic"ar\, n. [OE. vicar, viker, vicair, F. vicaire, fr. L. vicarius. See Vicarious.]
One deputed or authorized to perform the functions of another; a substitute in office; a deputy. [R.]
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(Eng. Eccl. Law) The incumbent of an appropriated benefice. Note: 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. Apostolic vicar, or Vicar apostolic. (R. C. Ch.)
A bishop to whom the Roman pontiff delegates a portion of his jurisdiction.
Any ecclesiastic acting under a papal brief, commissioned to exercise episcopal authority.
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A titular bishop in a country where there is no episcopal see, or where the succession has been interrupted. Vicar forane. [Cf. LL. foraneus situated outside of the episcopal city, rural. See Vicar, and Foreign.] (R. C. Ch.) 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.-
(R. C. Ch.) An assistant to a bishop in the discharge of his official functions.
Vicar of Jesus Christ (R. C. Ch.), the pope as representing Christ on earth.
WordNet
n. (Roman Catholic Church) an administrative deputy who assists a bishop
Usage examples of "vicar-general".
Bishop of Paraguay, that before leaving for Charcas, to present himself before the court, he had to go to Asuncion to name a Vicar-General, and towards the end of 1646 he embarked upon the river for Paraguay.
San Paulo, the very centre of the Mamelucos, when the Vicar-General published the brief by order of Don Pedro Albornoz!
I found Gama in conversation with the auditor sent by the Vicar-General.
A father, whose name I do not know yet, had requested the assistance of the Vicar-General to prevent his son from carrying off a young girl, with whom he intended to leave the States of the Church.
After dinner, finding myself alone with Gama, I asked him what was the meaning of it all, and this is what he told me: "A father, whose name I do not know yet, had requested the assistance of the Vicar-General to prevent his son from carrying off a young girl, with whom he intended to leave the States of the Church.
Prince Pignatelli, who had been left as vicar-general and viceroy, with orders to defend the kingdom to the last rock in Calabria, sent plenipotentiaries to the French camp before Capua.