a term applied to several persons whose offices are very different: as, 1. The rector of a parish is a clergyman that has the charge and cure of a parish, and possesses all the tithes, &c. 2. The same name is also given to the chief elective officer in several foreign universities, particularly in that of Paris, and also in those of Scotland. It is also applied to the head master of large schools in Scotland, as in the high school of Edinburgh. 3. Rector is also used in several convents for the superior officer who governs the house: and the Jesuits give this name to the superiors of such of their houses as are either seminaries or colleges.