a ruler or governor.-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.-a clergyman in charge of a parish.-the head master of a public school.-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.-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.