vigil

[vij-uhl]

noun

1. wakefulness or watchfulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping.

   They passed many hours in vigil.

2. a watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times.

   The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.

3. a quiet demonstration to support a cause, protest an injustice, honor the dead, etc..

   A candlelight vigil in remembrance of the two fallen officers will be held tonight at sundown.

4. Ecclesiastical.

   1. Sometimes vigils a nocturnal devotional exercise or service, especially on the eve before a church festival.

      The Easter vigil reflects on the holy sacraments as well as the resurrection and ascension of Christ.

   2. the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, especially an eve that is a fast.

5. a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.

vigil

/ ˈvɪdʒɪl /

noun

1. a purposeful watch maintained, esp at night, to guard, observe, pray, etc

2. the period of such a watch

3. RC Church Church of England the eve of certain major festivals, formerly observed as a night spent in prayer: often marked by fasting and abstinence and a special Mass and divine office

4. a period of sleeplessness; insomnia

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigil¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English vigil(i)e, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin vigilia “eve of a holy day,” special use of Latin vigilia “watchfulness,” equivalent to vigil “sentry” + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of vigil¹

C13: from Old French vigile, from Medieval Latin vigilia watch preceding a religious festival, from Latin: vigilance, from vigil alert, from vigēre to be lively

Example Sentences

Monday's candlelight vigil had been organised as a peaceful protest against the junta's military conscription and the upcoming national election.

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First Minister John Swinney was heckled outside the Scottish Parliament on Sunday as he spoke at a vigil marking the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Israel.

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In the statement, released during the protest, she said "if today's vigil had been cancelled we would have been letting terror win".

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Anna Bergson, who is married to a rabbi and whose children attend Jewish schools, said at a local vigil on Friday that antisemitic hatred had been "brewing" before the attack.

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He spoke ahead of a vigil on Friday where speakers included Rabbi Daniel Walker - who helped stave off the killer - as well as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.

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Related Words

• observance 
• patrol