A prefix in a small number of nouns (eight), the primary meaning of which, when attached to personal nouns indicating the holder of an office or a title, is ‘subordinate in rank’ or ‘acting as a deputy’ (visadmiral, viscapitain, vischaunceller, viscount, vislegate); it was also used in nouns derived from such personal nouns (viscountel, viscountes(se, viscountie). The prefix is usu. found in nouns borrowed from OF, but on at least one occasion it was used independently to form a new ME noun (vislegate).