vigil
Americannoun
-
wakefulness or watchfulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping.
They passed many hours in vigil.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Ecclesiastical.
-
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.
-
the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, especially an eve that is a fast.
-
-
a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.
noun
-
a purposeful watch maintained, esp at night, to guard, observe, pray, etc
-
the period of such a watch
-
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
-
a period of sleeplessness; insomnia
Etymology
Origin of vigil
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Consuegra was among a group of supporters who held a vigil in Little Havana in Miami on Thursday for the men who were killed and injured.
His mother and brother had kept a vigil at his bedside in Cuba.
From Literature
Medalia’s film follows activists whose silent vigils draw both support and condemnation.
From Los Angeles Times
Hundreds of people showed up for a midweek vigil at St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, where some of the family worships, a few days after Guthrie disappeared.
Ahead of the vigil, Carney and other leaders met with families of the victims and first responders.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
