VICARIOUS


Meaning of VICARIOUS in English

— vicariously , adv. — vicariousness, vicariism , n.

/vuy kair"ee euhs, vi-/ , adj.

1. performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another: vicarious punishment.

2. taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a substitute.

3. felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others: a vicarious thrill.

4. Physiol. noting or pertaining to a situation in which one organ performs part of the functions normally performed by another.

[ 1630-40; vicarius substituting, equiv. to vic ( is ) (gen.) interchange, alternation (see VICE 3 ), + -arius -ARY; see -OUS ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .