HealthAugust 17, 2026
vicarious
vy-KAIR-ee-us
Definition
Experienced or felt through the actions or feelings of another person, rather than by direct, personal participation.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin word 'vicarius,' meaning 'substitute' or 'deputy.' It entered English in the 17th century to describe something done or suffered in the place of another.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe 'vicarious trauma'—the stress lawyers feel from witnessing their clients' trauma—and 'vicarious resilience,' which is the positive adaptation lawyers develop through shared connection and peer support.
Why peer support matters for healthy lawyers
Read the full article ↗Law Society Journal