Noun
1
a period of sleeplessness
"After staying up all night to finish the project, I spent my entire day in a state of vigil before finally collapsing into bed."
2
the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)
"The parishioners gathered in the dimly lit chapel to begin their vigil, chanting prayers and keeping watch through the night before Easter."
3
a purposeful surveillance to guard or observe
"The security team stood outside the building for hours during the vigil to ensure no intruders approached the gates."
4
An instance of keeping awake during normal sleeping hours, especially to keep watch or pray.
"The entire congregation stayed up for a vigil last night to pray for peace before dawn broke."
Proper Noun
1
A surname.
"The local history club recently hosted a lecture by Mr. Vigil, who is an expert on 19th-century mining laws."
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)