ˈvijə̇l noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English vigile, from Old French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin vigilia watch on the eve of a religious festival, from Latin, wakefulness, watch, from vigil awake, alert; akin to Latin vigēre to be vigorous, flourish, vegēre to rouse, excite, be active — more at wake
1.
a. : a watch formerly kept on the night before a religious feast and customarily spent in prayer or other devotions
b. : the day before a religious feast observed as a day of spiritual preparation
c. : a religious service on the morning of the day before a holy day
2.
a. : evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers — usually used in plural
b. : devotional watching
nobles standing vigil by the coffin of their dead monarch
3.
a. : the act or action of keeping awake especially at times when sleep is customary ; also : a period of wakefulness
an all-night vigil spent awaiting the arrival of a celebrity
b. : unrelenting, hostile, or oppressive observation
guards keeping vigil over a noisy mob
also : a steady gaze or stare
4.
a. : an act or action of wakeful watching : watch
keep vigil all night beside a sickbed
also : the period spent in wakeful watching
b. : a protracted and usually lonely stay or sojourn
a five-month vigil near the polar ice pack