(in Britain) a member of the clergy appointed to act as priest of a parish from which, formerly, he or she did not receive tithes but a stipend
b.
a member of the clergy who acts as assistant to or substitute for the rector of a parish at Communion
c.
(in the US) a member of the clergy in charge of a chapel
2. Roman Catholic Church
a bishop or priest representing the pope or the ordinary of a diocese and exercising a limited jurisdiction
3. Also called: lay vicar, vicar choral Church of England
a member of a cathedral choir appointed to sing certain parts of the services
4.
a person appointed to do the work of another
Derived forms
vicarly (ˈvicarly)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French vicaire, from Latin vicārius (n) a deputy, from vicārius (adj) vicarious
vicar choral in American English
nounWord forms: pluralvicars choral
Anglican Church
a member of the clergy or a layperson in a cathedral who sings certain parts of theservice
Word origin
[1520–30]This word is first recorded in the period 1520–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bias, monkey, normal, pilot, ribbon