vigil
/ˈvɪd͡ʒəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.24 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An instance of keeping awake during normal sleeping hours, especially to keep watch or pray.
noun
A period of observation or surveillance at any hour.
noun
A quiet demonstration in support of a cause.
name
A surname.
Example Sentences
- "I saw her head drooped upon her hand; her whole attitude expressing that profound depression, whose lonely vigil wastes the midnight in a gloomy watch, which yet hopes for nothing at its close."
- "Eventually the body trade grew so reckless that relatives took to holding graveside vigils, lest their loved ones disappear in the night."
- "A vigil was held for Ms. Cheptegei on Wednesday night, Ms. Indimuli said, with many women praying that she would survive."
- "Mortenson, who asked to use a pseudonym for this story, says she has been attending rallies and vigils in her home state to regain her optimism, but she’s finding it tough."
- "His dog kept vigil outside the hospital for eight days while he was recovering from an accident."
- "The protesters kept vigil outside the conference centre in which the party congress was being held."
Etymology
From Middle English vigile (“a devotional watching”), from Old French vigile, from Latin vigilia (“wakefulness, watch”), from vigil (“awake”), from Proto-Indo-European *weǵ- (“to be strong, lively, awake”). Doublet of Wigilia. See also wake and vigor, from the same root.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *weǵ-, vigile, vigilia