■ noun
1》 (in the Church of England) an incumbent of a parish where tithes formerly passed to a chapter or religious house or layman.
↘(in other Anglican Churches) a member of the clergy deputizing for another.
↘(in the Roman Catholic Church) a representative or deputy of a bishop.
↘(in the US Episcopal Church) a clergyman in charge of a chapel.
2》 a cleric or choir member appointed to sing certain parts of a cathedral service.
Derivatives
~ship noun
Origin
ME: via Anglo-Norman Fr. from OFr. vicaire , from L. ~ius 'substitute', from vic- 'change, place' (cf. vice 3 ).