Vigil
['vɪdʒɪl]
Definition
(noun.) the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival).
(noun.) a period of sleeplessness.
Editor: Murdoch--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) Abstinence from sleep, whether at a time when sleep is customary or not; the act of keeping awake, or the state of being awake, or the state of being awake; sleeplessness; wakefulness; watch.
(v. i.) Hence, devotional watching; waking for prayer, or other religious exercises.
(v. i.) Originally, the watch kept on the night before a feast.
(v. i.) Later, the day and the night preceding a feast.
(v. i.) A religious service performed in the evening preceding a feast.
Edited by Lizzie
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Watch, sleeplessness, abstinence from sleep.
Editor: Moore
Definition
n. watching: keeping awake for religious exercises: the eve before a feast or fast day originally kept by watching through the night.—n. Vig′ilance wakefulness: watchfulness: circumspection: (obs.) a guard watch.—adj. Vig′ilant watchful: on the lookout for danger: circumspect.—n. Vigilan′te a member of a vigilance committee.—adv. Vig′ilantly.—Vigilance committee (U.S.) an unauthorised body which in the absence or inefficiency of regular courts exercises legal powers of arrest punishment &c. in cases of gross crime: also any self-appointed association for the compulsory improvement of local morals.
Editor: Rena
Examples
- It proved, however, that our vigil was not to be so long as Holmes had led us to fear, and it ended in a very sudden and singular fashion. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Towards midnight the teasing, monotonous bark of the house-dog disturbed the quietude of their vigil. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- While he was engaged on these tests Colonel Gouraud came down one night to visit him at the lonely works, spent a vigil with him, and toward morning wanted coffee. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- The night was fine, but still it was a very weary vigil. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- The two watchers ended their long vigil, exhausted, but very happy. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- Why didn't you call on me to share your vigil? Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- So this was the explanation of the unlocked door and of the nocturnal vigil of Milverton. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Jane, Jane, said he, stopping before me, you are quite pale with your vigils: don't you curse me for disturbing your rest? Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- To say our orisons, fool, answered the Pilgrim, to repent our sins, and to mortify ourselves with fastings, vigils, and long prayers. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
Edited by Amber