vigil Hear it!

vigil definition

vigil (vij′əl)

noun

    1. a purposeful or watchful staying awake during the usual hours of sleep
    2. a watch kept, or the period of this
  2. Eccles. the evening or day before a festival, or the devotional services held then

Etymology: ME vigile < OFr < L vigilia, a watch < vigil, awake < vegere, to arouse: see wake

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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