What is the meaning of "vicarious"?

The meaning of "vicarious" refers specifically to experiences that are felt indirectly or imaginatively through someone else's feelings or actions. When someone has a vicarious experience, they are not directly involved but rather enjoy or learn from the experiences of others, often through empathy or imaginative engagement. This concept can be seen in many aspects of life, such as watching a film where one might feel the emotions that characters are experiencing or listening to someone's story and feeling as though they lived it alongside them.

In contrast, the other choices suggest different concepts: having direct first-hand experiences refers to engaging in activities oneself, detached observation implies an aloofness without emotional connection, and limiting one’s feelings focuses on personal internal emotions rather than those shared or experienced through others. Each of these definitions diverges from the core idea of vicarious experiences, which center around the imaginative involvement with the experiences of others.