What does viced mean?
Viced is the simple past and past participle of the obsolete English verb vice. Its historical sense was to put someone in place of another or to act as a ruler's deputy, most notably as a vice-king. The form therefore appears in historical narratives describing a prince, regent, or other official exercising authority during a monarch's absence. In contemporary English, it is encountered chiefly in older literature and historical texts; modern speakers would normally use acted for, stood in for, served as regent, or replaced. The word can be confused with vised, the past tense of vise, a clamping tool. Viced is unrelated to the modern moral noun vice, although both ultimately reflect the same ancient Latin source associated with vicis, meaning a turn or change.
verbAn obsolete verb meaning to substitute for or act in place of another, especially a monarch serving as vice-king.
- To substitute for or act in place of another, especially a ruler acting as vice-king or regent.
"The prince viced for his father while the king was abroad."
"The prince viced for his father while the king was abroad."
"The regent viced the young monarch during the minority."
Once, to “vice” someone meant to stand in their place—an archaic predecessor of today’s vice-king.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of viced
The verb comes through Old French from Latin vice, the ablative singular of vicis, meaning “turn” or “change.” Its use for substitution developed from the idea of one person taking another's place, eventually including the role of a vice-king. The same Latin root produced words such as vicar, vicarious, vicissitude, and vice versa.
Related word forms
How viced is actually used
Viced is now obsolete and survives mainly in historical or literary language. In modern usage, phrases such as acted as regent, served as deputy, or stood in for are clearer and more natural.
Easily confused with viced
Viced is the obsolete past tense and past participle of vice, meaning to act in place of another, whereas vised is the past tense and past participle of vise, the tool.