vigil
vigil
UK[ˈvɪdʒɪl]US[ˈvɪdʒɪl]
n
A period of staying awake, especially at night, in order to watch over someone who is ill, to pray, or to protest.
n
The eve of a religious festival, especially one involving staying awake for prayer or observance.
Etymology
The word 'vigil' entered English in the 13th century via Old French 'vigile', directly from the Latin 'vigilia', meaning 'a watch' or 'wakefulness'. This Latin term derives from the adjective 'vigil', meaning 'awake' or 'alert'. The ultimate source is the Proto-Indo-European root weg-, meaning 'to be strong, lively, or awake', which also gives rise to English words like 'vigor', 'wake', and 'watch'. The semantic journey is clear: from the core concept of being awake, to the act of keeping watch, and finally to its specialized modern meanings of a watchful night or a religious observance.
Analysis
The word 'vigil' is a simplex loanword from Latin. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English spelling that are productive or meaningful for learners in isolation.
Examples
The family kept a vigil by the sick child's bedside throughout the night.
The candlelight vigil was held to honor the victims of the tragedy.
In the Christian tradition, the Easter Vigil is the most important liturgy of the year.