VICAR

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ~ius, from ~ius ~ious Date: 14th century one serving as a substitute or agent, an ecclesiastical agent: as, a Church of England incumbent receiving a stipend but not the tithes of a parish, a member of the Episcopal clergy or laity who has charge of a mission or chapel, a member of the clergy who exercises a broad pastoral responsibility as the representative of a prelate, ~ship noun