a. [ad. L. type *vicāriāl-is, f. vicārius VICAR. So F. and Sp. vicarial.]
1. Delegated, deputed; vicarious.
1617. Slingsby, Diary (1836), 297. Our Lord communicated his power to preistis and his ministires and vicars, and so thar power is ministeriall and vicariall as they call it.
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), I. 392. By these vicarial offices in the house his lordship was educated to the employ there.
1747. West, Resurrection (ed. 2), 275. God … promised to continue that delegated vicarial Sceptre of Righteousness in his [David’s] Posterity for ever.
1803. Edin. Rev., I. 390. The contest for vicarial and deputed power … is more prudent than the struggle for that which is original and supreme.
1850. Cdl. Wiseman, Pastoral, 7 Oct. The silver links of that chain which has connected their country with the See of Peter in its Vicarial Government.
1868. Lightfoot, Philip. (1885), 267. His office is representative, and not vicarial.
2. Of or belonging to a vicar or vicars.
1744. J. Comyns, Reports of Cases, 634. Wallis ver. Pain and Underhill…. Mr. Underhill the Vicar insisted upon the Tithe of Clover Seed as a Vicarial or small Tithe.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 376. Hence many things, as wood in particular, is in some countries a predial, and in some a vicarial tithe.
1825. R. Churton, in R. Chandler, Trav. Asia M., I. Introd. p. viii. He fitted up the vicarial house.
1840. John Bull, 7 Nov., 540/2. A question relative to the liability of vicarial lands to Church rates was mooted before the bench.
1865. M. E. C. Walcott, Cathedralia, 165. The vicarial stalls of Gaia major and Sandiacre have been also restored.
3. Consisting of vicars.
1771. in Mem. Rev. W. Richardson (1821), 13. In May, the death of poor Frank, by a consumption, made a vacancy in the vicarial body.
4. Holding the office of a vicar.
1806. V. Knox, Serm., Isa. xxviii. 16, Wks. 1824, VI. 377. But the great proprietors of land soon … obtained for each a resident pastor, either rectorial or vicarial, either an incumbent or a substitute.
