vice-ˈchancellor
Forms: 5 vichaunceller, 6 vychancellour, vyschancelar; 6 vice-chauncelour, -ellor, -chancelor, 6– vice-chancellor (7 -our); Sc. 6 vicechancellair, 7 -ellar, -eler.
[a. OF. vi(s)chancelier (F. vice-chancelier), or ad. med.L. vicecancellarius: see vice- and chancellor n. So It. vicecancelliere, Sp. vicecanciller, Pg. vicechanceller.]
1. The deputy or substitute of an ecclesiastical chancellor; spec. the cardinal at the head of the Papal Chancery.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) VII. 297 This bischop induede the prior of Dirhem firste with his honoure that he is decan in that bischopryche and as vichaunceller. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals i. iii. 85 Six of the Abbreviators places are in the Gift of the Cardinal Vice-Chancellor. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 18 Feb. 1645, Belonging to Cardinal Francesco Barberini as Vice-chancelor of the Church of Rome. 1845 S. Austin Ranke's Hist. Ref. v. v, We have already alluded to the proceedings of his vice-chancellor, Waldkirch. 1884 Cath. Dict. (1897) 263 The more pressing, weighty, public, and solemn affairs of the Apostolic See..pass through the hands of the Vice-Chancellor. |
2. The acting representative of the Chancellor of a university, usually the head of a college specially appointed to the office for a limited time, or the principal of the university.
| 1530 Act 22 Hen. VIII, c. 12 Scolers of the Universites of Oxford & Cambrydge that goo about beggyng, not beyng aucthorysed..by the Commyssary, Chauncelloure, or vichauncelloure of the same. a 1540 Barnes Wks. (1573) 222/2 Because I had once submitted my selfe to the Vice⁓chauncelour, and I was thereby circunuented. 1577 Harrison England ii. iii. (1877) i. 82 Ouer each vniuersitie also there is a seuerall chancelor, whose offices are perpetuall, howbeit their substitutes, whom we call vicechancelors, are changed euerie yeare. 1629 Wadsworth Pilgr. Ded. A iij, The Reuerend Vice-Chancellor, Doctors, Procters, Gouernors of Colledges and Hals. 1681 Lond. Gaz. No. 1656/3 Afterwards several of the Nobility were admitted Doctors of Law, His Majesty allowing the Vice-Chancellor to be Covered in His Presence, while the Orator presented them. 1705 Ibid. No. 4114/1 Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and the other Members of the University, waited..upon the Prince. 1763–5 Churchill Author Poems 1767 II. 128 Vice Chancellors, whose knowledge is but small,..Ill-brook'd the gen'rous Spirit, in those days When Learning was the certain road to praise. 1836 Penny Cycl. VI. 482/1 In both the English Universities the duties of the Chancellor are in nearly all cases discharged by a Vice-Chancellor. 1864 J. H. Newman Apol. 235 The late Vice-Chancellor threatens to take his own children away from the church. |
3. A deputy or subordinate of one or other state official bearing the title of Chancellor.
| 1587 Reg. Privy Council Scot. IV. 167 Schir Johnne Maitland of Thirlstane, knycht, his Majesteis secretare and vice-chancellair. 1612 Maitland Club Misc. III. 113 Appoynting him [sc. the archbishop] to be Vicechanceler in the Parlement, if my Lord Chancelar thoght not the Chancelarie and Commissionarie compatible. c 1653 Baillie in Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) Introd. 53 The Vice-Chancellar was dead. 1694 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 272 Mr. Hambden, vicechancellor of the exchequer, has laid down that place. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Chancellor, Sometimes the Lord Chancellor [of England] had a Vice-Chancellor, who was Keeper of the Seal. 1777 R. Watson Philip II, II. 217 She was offended at their artifice, and immediately despatched her vice-chancellor to complain of their conduct. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. V. l. 94 The vice-chancellor [at Moscow], therefore, calmly explained the impossibility of conceding the request for troops. 1889 Dict. Nat. Biog. XVIII. 49 Eustace (d. 1215), bishop of Ely,..became vice-chancellor and keeper of the royal seal, and ultimately chancellor. |
b. spec. One of the higher judges in the former Court of Chancery.
| 1813 Act 53 Geo. III, c. 24 To nominate and appoint from time to time..a fit Person,..to be an additional Judge Assistant to the Lord High Chancellor,..and to be called Vice Chancellor of England. 1823 Egan Grose's Dict. Vulg. T., Vice Chancellor's court, creditor's last shift. 1835 Tomlins Law-Dict. I. s.v. Chancellor, In his judicial capacity, he hath divers assistants and officers, viz. the Vice-Chancellor of England,..the Masters in Chancery, &c. 1876 Encycl. Brit. V. 390/1 Previous to being merged in the New Supreme Court of Judicature, the Court of Chancery consisted of the Lord Chancellor,..and three Vice-Chancellors. |
Hence vice-ˈchancellorship, the office or dignity of a vice-chancellor; the period during which this is held.
| 1579 Fenton Guicciard. i. 4 He made the Pope promise him..the office of vicechancellorshippe (the principallest place in the Court of Rome). 1589 [? Nashe] Almond for Parrat 29 T. C. in Cambridge first inuented this violent innouation, when as his mounting ambition went through euery kinde of Ambitus, to compasse the Office of the Vice⁓chauncelour-ship. 1655 T. Baily Life Bp. Fisher 10 But now Vicechancellour-ship, Mastership and all must be laid downe. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 593 He did undergo with great honor the Vicechancellourship of this University. 1761 T. Warton Life Bathurst 94 The spirited orations which he spoke in his Vice-chancellorship. 1813 Sir S. Romilly Parl. Deb. 15 Feb., The Vice-Chancellorship might in a short time become a sinecure. 1889 W. Wilson State §426 (1893) 266 [The German chancellor] is..ultimately responsible in every case—even for the non-exercise of his office. The vice-chancellorship is only a convenience. |