vig ‧ il /ˈvɪdʒəl, ˈvɪdʒɪl/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: vigile , from Latin vigilia 'staying awake, keeping watch' , from vigil 'awake' ]
1 . a period of time, especially during the night, when you stay awake in order to pray, remain with someone who is ill, or watch for danger:
Eva and Paul kept a constant vigil by their daughter’s hospital bedside.
2 . a silent political protest in which people wait outside a building, especially during the night
silent/candle-lit vigil
2,000 demonstrators held a candle-lit vigil outside the embassy.