n.
Pronunciation: ' vi-j ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English vigile, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin vigilia watch on the eve of a feast, from Latin, wakefulness, watch, from vigil awake, watchful; akin to Latin vig ē re to be vigorous, veg ē re to enliven ― more at WAKE
Date: 13th century
1 a : a watch formerly kept on the night before a religious feast with prayer or other devotions b : the day before a religious feast observed as a day of spiritual preparation c : evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers ― usually used in plural
2 : the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary also : a period of wakefulness
3 : an act or period of watching or surveillance : WATCH <kept vigil at her bedside>