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Glite Dictionary
vicar-general

vicar-general

9.9
A priest who helps a bishop run a group of churches
  • noun
  • /ˈvɪkər ˈdʒɛnərəl/
  • Formal
translation icon : vicario general
  • Monsignor Peter Dora is the vicar-general of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta.
  • vicar general of the diocese

Examples

  • As vicar-general, West reported to Jugis and acted in the bishop's place in his absence.

  • Significantly, they went first to the vicar general of the diocese, then to the Parliament, and finally to the General Assembly of the French Clergy, which was in session.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Father Brian Schieber, the archdiocesan vicar-general for clergy, organizes retreats for priests.

Synonyms

prelate
vsvicar-general
  • Jargon
12 9.1

A senior church leader who has authority over other clergy

is a priest acting as a bishop's administrative deputy rather than a senior clergy authority

How Senior

archbishop
31 7.2
bishop
210 3.9
vicar-general
  • Formal
9.9
vicar
18 5.4
priest
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

vicar-general singular
vicar-generals plural

Morphology

vicar-general = vicar + general (semi-transparent) = vicar + general

Formed from 'vicar' + 'general' where 'general' indicates broad delegated authority; the composition is clear but the term denotes a specific ecclesiastical office that may not be fully deducible by all learners.

Etymology

Vicar-general comes from two parts: vicar, which means 'in place of' or 'substitute', and general, meaning 'overall' or 'chief'. So a vicar-general is a priest who acts as the bishop's deputy and looks after the bishop's work for the whole area.