Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Vicarious \Vi*ca"ri*ous\, a. [L. vicarius, from vicis change,
   alternation, turn, the position, place, or office of one
   person as assumed by another; akin to Gr. ? to yield, give
   way, G. wechsel a change, and probably also to E. weak. See
   {Weak}, and cf. {Vice}, prep.]
   1. Of or pertaining to a vicar, substitute, or deputy;
      deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.

   2. Acting of suffering for another; as, a vicarious agent or
      officer.

            The soul in the body is but a subordinate efficient,
            and vicarious . . . in the hands of the Almighty.
                                                  --Sir M. Hale.

   3. Performed of suffered in the place of another;
      substituted; as, a vicarious sacrifice; vicarious
      punishment.

            The vicarious work of the Great Deliverer. --I.
                                                  Taylor.

   4. (Med.) Acting as a substitute; -- said of abnormal action
      which replaces a suppressed normal function; as, vicarious
      hemorrhage replacing menstruation.

Source : WordNet®

vicarious
     adj 1: experienced at secondhand; "read about mountain climbing and
            felt vicarious excitement"
     2: occurring in an abnormal part of the body instead of the
        usual site involved in that function; "vicarious
        menstruation"
     3: suffered or done by one person as a substitute for another;
        "vicarious atonement"