2. (a) (Ch. of Eng.) A clergyman who has the charge and cure of a parish, and has the tithes, etc.; the clergyman of a parish where the tithes are not impropriate. See the Note under Vicar. Blackstone. (b) (Prot. Epis. Ch.)
Defn: A clergyman in charge of a parish.
3. The head master of a public school. [Scot.]
4. The chief elective officer of some universities, as in France and Scotland; sometimes, the head of a college; as, the Rector of Exeter College, or of Lincoln College, at Oxford.
5. (R.C.CH.)
Defn: The superior officer or chief of a convent or religious house; and among the Jesuits the superior of a house that is a seminary or college.
RECTORAL
Rec"tor*al (-al), a. Etym: [CF. F. rectoral.]
Defn: Pertaining to a rector or governor.
RECTORATE
Rec"tor*ate (-t), n. Etym: [LL. rectoratus: cf. F. rectorat.]
Defn: The office, rank, or station of a rector; rectorship.