Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SUR'RO-GATE, n. [L. surrogatus, surrogo, subrogo; sub and rogo, to propose. Rogo, to ask or propose, signifies primarily to reach, put or thrust forward; and subrogo is to put or set in the place of another.]

In a general sense, a deputy; delegate; substitute; particularly, the deputy of an ecclesiastical judge, most commonly of a bishop or his chancellor. In some of the United States, the judge of probate, of wills and testaments.