VIGIL Definition & Meaning

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vigil

[ vij-uhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

wakefulness or watchfulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping:
They passed many hours in vigil.
a watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times:
The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.
a quiet demonstration to support a cause, protest an injustice, honor the dead, etc.:
A candlelight vigil in remembrance of the two fallen officers will be held tonight at sundown.
Ecclesiastical.
1. Sometimes vigils. a nocturnal devotional exercise or service, especially on the eve before a church festival:
  The Easter vigil reflects on the holy sacraments as well as the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
2. the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, especially an eve that is a fast.
a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.

vigil

/ ˈ��ɪ��ɪ�� /

noun

a purposeful watch maintained, esp at night, to guard, observe, pray, etc
the period of such a watch
RC Church Church of England the eve of certain major festivals, formerly observed as a night spent in prayer: often marked by fasting and abstinence and a special Mass and divine office
a period of sleeplessness; insomnia

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of vigil¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English vigil(i)e, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin vigilia “eve of a holy day,” special use of Latin vigilia “watchfulness,” equivalent to vigil “sentry” + -ia -y ³

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of vigil¹

C13: from Old French vigile, from Medieval Latin vigilia watch preceding a religious festival, from Latin: vigilance, from vigil alert, from ��ŧ�� to be lively

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Their family said they "brought the sparkle to life" and will be missed "for eternity" during an emotional vigil in Liverpool shortly after Williams' death.

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Following his death fans gathered at the nearby Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park for an all-day vigil, with musicians playing Lennon's songs while the crowd sang along.

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Roads were closed to allow crowds to gather for a vigil to Elianne, while cards and flowers were sent from all over the world.

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A statement was read out on behalf of Amen's father, in which he thanked the community and everyone who had come to the vigil.

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Friends of schoolboy Amen Teklay will hold a vigil in Glasgow later as a police investigation continues into his murder.

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