Webster's English Dictionary

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vigil

vig.il \'vij-*l\ n [ME vigile, fr. OF, fr. LL & L; LL vigilia watch on the 
   eve of a fe]ast, fr. L, wakefulness, watch, fr. vigil awake, watchful; akin 
   to L vige-re to be vigorous, vege-re to be active, rouse - more at WAKE 1a: 
   a watch formerly kept on the night before a religious feast with prayer  or 
   other devotions 1b: the day before a religious feast observed as a day of 
   spiritual prepara tion 1c: evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers - usu. 
   used in pl.  2: the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary; 
   also a  period of wakefulness 3: an act of surveillance (as for protection) 
   : WATCH