n.
Pronunciation: s ə r- ' v ā -l ə n(t)s also - ' v ā l-y ə n(t)s or - ' v ā - ə n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from surveiller to watch over, from sur- + veiller to watch, from Old French veillier, from Latin vigilare, from vigil watchful ― more at VIGIL
Date: 1802
: close watch kept over someone or something (as by a detective) also : SUPERVISION