Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vicar” come from?

Vicar comes from Old French vicare, a derivative noun meaning a substitute or deputy official.

vicar (English): In the Church of England, the priest of a parish,...

Definitions

  1. In the Church of England, the priest of a parish,...

Ancestry of “vicar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishvicar—
2Old Frenchvikaire—
3Latinvicārius—
4Latinvicischange, alternation, turn; time, instance; season
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweyḱ-to enter in; to settle; settlement
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

Words derived from “vicar”

  • vicarage
  • vicarial
  • vicarship
  • vicaress
  • vicarish
  • vicarless
  • vicarly
  • unvicar
  • ficer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →