[See next and -ENCY. So mod.L. vicegerentia (1601 in Du Cange), It. vicegerenza.]
1. The office, dignity or rule of a vicegerent; the fact of ruling or administering as representative of another.
1596. Drayton, Legends, iv. 511. But to the great Vicegerencie I grew, Being a Title as Supreme as new.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 119. If euery Priest shold take place agreeing to their Vice-gerencie vnder Christ, there could be no order kept.
1641. Milton, Prel. Episc., Wks. 1851, III. 73. Timothy, and Titus,… had rather the vicegerency of an Apostleship committed to them, then the ordinary charge of a Bishoprick.
a. 1668. Davenant, Law agst. Lovers, Wks. (1673), 323. The Duke,… During the time of your Vicegerency, Remain’d here in disguise.
1702. Sacheverell, Serm. Univ. Oxford (1710), 9. The highest indignity … to any crown’d head is … denying its vice-gerency.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., III. App. 75. James was vaunting his divine vicegerency.
1845. R. W. Hamilton, Pop. Educ., ix. 224. To gain a just conception of civil government…. If it be that Divine vicegerency which many have described [etc.].
1891. Daily News, 29 Dec., 6/1. He has … put to death more than forty persons who have dared to question his authority or argued against his vicegerency.
transf. 1711. G. Hickes, Two Treat. Chr. Priesth., I. ii. 16. This Vicegerency, or mediatory Office to transact and minister in sacred Matters betwixt God and Man.
b. A district or province ruled by a vicegerent.
1865. W. G. Palgrave, Arabia, I. vi. 244. History and tradition record no rebellious outbreak of any importance during their sway among the numerous vicegerencies of Arabia.
† 2. Vicarious nature or character. Obs.
1671. Flavel, Fount Life, vii. 18. His sanctifying himself for us plainly speaks the Vicegerency of his Death.
1679. C. Nesse, Antichrist, 24. Antichrist … signifies substitution and vice-gerency.
