WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Vi*ca"ri*ous
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [L. vicarius, from vicis change, alternation, turn, the position, place, or office of one person as assumed by another; akin to Gr. wechsel a change, and probably also to E. weak. See Weak, and cf. Vice, prep.]
Definition : 1. Of or pertaining to a vicar, substitute, or deputy; deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.

2. Acting of suffering for another; as, a vicarious agent or officer. The soul in the body is but a subordinate efficient, and vicarious . . . in the hands of the Almighty. Sir M. Hale.

3. Performed of suffered in the place of another; substituted; as, a vicarious sacrifice; vicarious punishment. The vicarious work of the Great Deliverer. I. Taylor.

4. (Med.)

Defn: Acting as a substitute; -- said of abnormal action which replaces a suppressed normal function; as, vicarious hemorrhage replacing menstruation.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913