GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Vigil , n. [OE. vigile, L. vigilia, from vigil awake, watchful, probably akin to E. wake: cf. F. vigile. See Wake, v. i., and cf. Reveille, Surveillance, Vedette, Vegetable, Vigor.]
    Abstinence from sleep, whether at a time when sleep is customary or not; the act of keeping awake, or the state of being awake; sleeplessness; wakefulness; watch. “Worn out by the labors and vigils of many months.”
   Macaulay.
   
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   Nothing wears out a fine face like the vigils of the card table and those cutting passions which attend them.
   Addison.
   
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   Hence, devotional watching; waking for prayer, or other religious exercises.
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   So they in heaven their odes and vigils tuned.
   Milton.
   
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   Be sober and keep vigil,
   The Judge is at the gate.
   Neale (Rhythm of St. Bernard).
   
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   (Eccl.) (a) Originally, the watch kept on the night before a feast. (b) Later, the day and the night preceding a feast.
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   He that shall live this day, and see old age,
   Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors,
   And say, “To-morrow is St. Crispian.”
   Shak.
   
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   (c) A religious service performed in the evening preceding a feast.
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   Vigils of flowers or Watchings of flowers (Bot.), a peculiar faculty belonging to the flowers of certain plants of opening and closing their petals at certain hours of the day. [R.]
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