proprefectn.
/prəʊˈpriːfɛkt/, U.S. /proʊˈpriˌfɛk(t)/ A deputy prefect or commander.In later use esp. with reference to various offices within the Roman Catholic Church (cf. prefect n. 2b).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > Roman magistrates and officials > [noun] > prefect > proprefect
proprefect1691
society > authority > office > holder of office > magistrate > chief magistrate of a district > [noun] > prefect > subordinate or deputy prefect
sub-prefect1652
proprefect1691
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses II. 293 He..was entertained by William Marquess of Newcastle, and by him made Proprefect or Lieutenant General of his Ordnance.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) The third Inscription mentions Pro prefects of the Prætorium under Gratian, in the City of Rome and the neighbouring parts.
1756 A. Butler Lives Saints I. 486 He drew together the most able work-men from all quarters, and appointed for overseers persons of the highest rank, placing at their head his intimate friend Alypius, who had formerly been Pro-prefect of Britain.
1862 F. C. Husenbeth Life J. Milner xv. 273 The Pro-Prefect of the Propaganda, Mgr. Quarantotti.
1867 W. Smith Dict. Greek & Rom. Biogr. & Mythol. (Boston ed.) II. 888/1 In the Codex Theodosianus, it is true, a law is preserved..addressed to Macrobius, propraefect of the Spains.
1916 Times 20 Mar. 7/6 Benedict XV. then appointed Cardinal Serafini as Pro-Prefect, Cardinal Gotti retaining office nominally.
1958 Lima (Ohio) News 21 June 2/4 Among his duties as proprefect of the Congregation for Propagation of the Faith, he has responsibility for 30 million Roman Catholics under direct mission care.
1993 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 12 Aug. 48/1 As ‘proprefect’ of the Holy Office—in effect its chief administrator—he assumed the prerogatives of personal infallibility.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1691