prefix, representing L. vice in place of: see prec. Originally this governed a following word in the genitive, but in late L. the tendency to use the phrase as a compound noun appears in vicequæstor (equivalent to prōquæstor of analogous origin). In med.L. such formations became common, as vicecomes, -consul, -decanus, -dominus, -princeps, -reclor, -rex, etc. From the 13th cent. onwards a number of these appear in OF., at first usually with the prefix in the form of vis-, vi-, but latterly assimilated as a rule to the Latin original. Similar compounds with vice- are also employed in It., Sp. and Pg. The older examples in English, having been taken immediately from French, also present the prefix in the reduced forms vis- (vys-, viz-) and vi- (vy-), subsequently replaced by vice- (also in early use vize-) except in VISCOUNT. The more important compounds are given below as main words; the following are illustrations of less usual or more recent terms.
a. With personal designations, especially titles of office, indicating that the person so called acts temporarily or regularly in place of, in the absence of, or as assistant to, another who properly holds the office or bears the title or name, as vice-abbot, -agent, -Apollo, -apostle, -architect, etc. Also occas. transf., as vice-nature.
In the dictionaries of Florio and Miége many examples of similar forms are employed to render the Italian and French equivalents, e.g., vice-captain, cardinal, -censor, -commissary, etc.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, II. (1662), 50. Gregory of Huntington … was bred a Benedictine Monke in Ramsey, where he became Prior, or *Vice-Abbot.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xli. § 1. A vassal whom Satan hath made his *Vice-agent.
1648. Crashaw, Poems (1904), 138. Him the Muses love to follow, Him they call their *vice-Apollo.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Vind. Answ., xiii. 114. They were Comites, and Vicarii Apostolorum, *Vice-Apostles.
1779. Phil. Trans., LXIX. 598. M. Forfait…, *vice-architect of the French navy.
1690. Lond. Gaz., No. 2617/2. The Troops there under the Command of the Ban and *Vice-Ban, were obliged by the bad weather to separate. Ibid. (1686), No. 2201/2. He who formerly commanded that Garison was *Vice-Bassa.
1778. Stiles, Diary (1901), II. 288. The Diploma Examinatorium … was delivered to the President, who gave it to the *Vice Bedellus, directing him to read it.
1671. F. Philipps, Reg. Necess., 433. The Baron of Limpurgh *Vice-Butler to the King of Bohemia.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, I. 10. Hauing first put to flight the *vice-Califa of Aegypt.
1860. All Year Round, No. 46. 475. The unmanageable ’Arry, who was a species of *vice-chair, and was also provided with a hammer.
1882. J. Hardy in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, IX. 440. Mr. Charles Watson … discharged the duties of the vice-chair.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Vice-chairman, a person who presides at the lower end of a table, supporting and aiding the chairman or president; the deputy-chairman of a board of officers.
1659. Baxter, Key Cath., xlii. 300. Prove that Christ hath commissioned a *Vice-Christ. Ibid. (1691), Nat. Churches, x. 42. Being an Usurpation of Christ’s Office, and making a Vice-Christ, which is an Antichrist.
1712. [see VICE-GOD].
1497. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 58. It is thought expedient that the Popes Holynesse comaund the said aide … to be publisshed by his *vicecollectour.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Vice-commodore, a deputy commander of a naval squadron.
1631. Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 541. Edward the third … did substitute Edward Bohun, the Earles younger brother, *Vice-Constable vnder him.
1878. J. Gairdner, Hist. Rich. III., iv. 175. Sir Ralph Ashton was … appointed Vice-Constable … to exercise all the powers of the Lord High Constable for the particular emergency.
1566. trans. Beza’s Admon. Parlt., D j. Cathedrall churches,… where master Deane, master *Vicedeane,… readers, vergerirs, &c. liue in great idlenesse.
1637. Gillespie, Eng. Pop. Cerem., III. viii. 161. Deanes, Vice-Deans,… Subdeacons.
1697. Lond. Gaz., No. 3341/1. The Vice-Dean with the Clergy, made a Congratulatory Speech.
1875. W. H. Jones, Fasti Eccl. Sarisb., 265. There is always a distinction to be observed between a ‘Vice-Dean’ or a ‘Locum Tenens,’ and the ‘Sub-Dean.’
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 153. He made choice of his … master or generall of the horse, or *vice-dictatour.
1882. Macm. Mag., XLVI. 249. A *vice-director of the military college.
1818. Shelley, Eug. Hills, 244. But Death promised … That he would petition for Her to be made *Vice-Emperor.
1844. Thirlwall, Greece, VIII. lxvi. 451. Before Diæus came to Corinth, a council was held there by the *vice-general Sosicrates.
1711. Hickes, Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (1847), II. 188. Would he not have been a *vice-high-priest as well as a viceroy?
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XI. x. As the law hath foolishly omitted this office of *vice-husband, or guardian to an eloped lady.
1817. Byron, Beppo, xxix. And so she thought it prudent to connect her With a vice-husband, chiefly to protect her.
1609. J. Davies, Hum. Heaven, II. cvi. My *vice Ioues quoth he are ne’r afraid.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 112. Lupus Olanus the conductor of one of the shippes of Nicuesa, and nowe also *vice Leauetenaunt in his steede.
1690. Lond. Gaz., No. 2527/3. And after them Count Popenheim, *Vice-Marshal of the Empire, carried the Sword of State naked before the Emperor.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 212. He hath not played the *Vicemaster of Poules, and the Foolemaster of the Theater for naughtes.
1618. Barnevelt’s Apol., G j. The Vice-maisters place of the fees hath not allowed one halfe penny for stipend.
1690. C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 370. Potiphar … made him his vice-master.
1886. Abp. Benson, in A. C. Benson, Life (1899), II. 122. I sate … next to the Vice-Master.
a. 1631. Donne, Love’s Deity, i. Since this god produc’d a Destiny, And that *vice-nature, custome, lets it bee.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4395/2. Advices from Hungary say, That Prince Ragotzki had declared Count Berezini *Vice-Palatine of that Kingdom.
1775. L. Shaw, Hist. Moray, 357. Fraser of Strichen, who, as *Vice-Patron, presented Mr. John Anand in 1640.
1793. [see VICE sb.6 2].
1643. Prynne, Popish R. Favourite, 69. And therefore the Popes Holinesse hath given these his *Vice-popes instructions, Commissions thus to do.
1705. Hickeringill, Priest-cr., I. (1721), 54. As the Pope keeps the Keys, they say, of Heaven Gates, being *Vice-porter under St. Peter.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xvii. (1787), II. 37. The eleven remaining dioceses … were governed by twelve vicars, or *vice-præfects, whose name … explains the nature … of their office.
1877. J. Morris, Troubles Cath. Forefathers, Ser. III. 116. During this time he was Socius to Father Henry Garret, Vice-Prefect of the English Mission.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXVI. i. 582. Those legions which were commaunded by P. Cornelius the *Viz-pretour in Sicilie.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), V. 161. The celebration of the ceremony … proved by the habitual operator, the *vice-priest, a tobacconist.
1810. Oxford Univ. Cal., 129. Edmund Hall…. Principal, George Thompson, D.D. … *Vice-Principal, Daniel Wilson, M.A.
1864. J. H. Newman, Apol., i. (1904), 7/2. I became very intimate with him [Whately] in 1825, when I was his Vice-Principal at St. Alban Hall.
1857. G. Oliver, Coll. Hist. Cath. Relig. Cornwall, etc., 486. Adeodatus l’Angevin, elected *vice-prior at the fourth general chapter.
1602. Archpriest Controv. (Camden), II. 2. To present ourselves first to the Protector and *Vice-protector.
c. 1890. Stevenson, In South Seas, I. xiv. (1900), 122. The sergeant of gendarmerie enjoys the style of the *vice-resident.
1878. Stubbs, Const. Hist., xx. III. 421. The undue return made by the *vice-sheriff, who had substituted another name.
1704. Lond. Gaz., No. 4015/2. Baron Taston is made *Vice-Stadholder, and as such will preside over the Regency at Amberg. Ibid. (1710), No. 4664/2. Lieutenant-General Weebe, Vice-Stadtholder of Norway, is lately dead.
1835. App. Munic. Corp. Rep., IV. 2345 (Lincoln). A Deputy Recorder, *Vice Steward, Gaol Chaplain [etc.].
1894. 19th Cent., XXXVI. 425. The *vice-sultan of Haura received us right well.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Zealous Brother, 119. Hee was once in election to have been a *vice-verger in Amsterdam, but he wanted an audible voice.
1848. Curzon, Monast. Levant, I. iii. (1897), 22. The great man, who was *vice-viceroy on this occasion.
b. With nouns or adjs. derived from personal designations, as vice-apostolical, -cancellarian, -deity, -duchy, etc., or associated in some way with the holding of office, as vice-chair, -government, -throne.
This type is represented in late L. vice-quæstura, med.L. vice-comitalis, -comitatus, dominium, etc., and occurs freely in French and the other Romanic languages.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Vind. Answ., xiii. 119. He bids him goe on with speed to execute his *Vice-Apostolicall office.
1843. Whewell, in Life (1881), 285. Much too should I like to see you in your *Vice-Cancellarian chair.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxxvi. The chair was taken by Sir Francis Clavering,… the *vice-chair being ably filled by — Barker, Esq.
1884. Cyclists’ Tour. Club Gaz., March, 82/1. Messrs. W. B. Tanner and A. R. Sheppee occupied the vice-chairs.
1826. Southey, Vind. Eccl. Angl., 394. You have to reconcile the pretensions of the Popes with their practices,… their *vice-deity with their crimes.
1611. Florio, Vicedominanza, a *vice-gouernment.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., IV. xxxvi. 113. The offer of a baronetcy and the vice-government of Virginia.
1856. Merivale, Hist. Rom. Emp., l. (1865), VI. 188. In the mean time he [Nero] was deputed to hold proconsular, or *vice-imperial, power beyond the city.
1880. Swinburne, Stud. Shaks., 240. His poor little vice-regal or vice-imperial parasite.
a. 1617. Bayne, On Coloss. i. & ii. (1634), 97. We must not supply Him with *vice-ministeriall heads.
1574. Life 70th Abp. Canterb., Pref. C vij. The same Austen hauinge thus gotten by conquest this uniuersall *vicepapaci ouer England.
1775. L. Shaw, Hist. Moray, 343. How far the King may claim a *Vice-Patronage, I shall not determine.
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., I. Vicerectorat, a *Vice-principalship.
1870. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., April, 211. Fortunate enough to obtain the vice-principalship of the college.
1868. Daily News, 23 Oct. The *Vice-Provostship of Eton College.
c. 1890. Stevenson, In South Seas, I. xiv. (1900), 125. He was being haled to the *vice-residency, uncertain whether to be punished or rewarded.
1884. A. Forbes, Chinese Gordon, iii. 114. A royal salute was fired, and then Gordon had to make his speech from the *vice-throne.
c. With verbs, as vice-reign (after viceroy).
1889. Sat. Rev., 1 June, 653/2. If it were not for the Civil Service, the Viceroy simply could not vice-reign.
