vigil
vigil definition
vigil (vij′əl)
noun
- a purposeful or watchful staying awake during the usual hours of sleep
- a watch kept, or the period of this
- 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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