[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/vigil/)

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# vigil

noun (a vigil, vigils)

«vigil» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A vigil is a time when you stay awake, especially at night, to watch over someone or something or to pray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#m1)
2. A vigil is a quiet gathering of people to remember someone or to show they care about something, often with candles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#m2)
3. (church) A vigil is a service on the evening before a holy day, such as the Easter Vigil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#m3)

### In the lessons

In church life, Christians keep a vigil of prayer, for example on Holy Saturday night (the Easter Vigil). Families may keep a vigil at a sick person's bed. After a sad event, people hold a candlelit vigil. In The Wind in the Willows Rat and Mole keep watch through the night looking for little Portly.

### Examples

- The family kept a vigil by Grandad's bed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#x1)
- People held a candlelit vigil for the victims. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#x2)
- The Easter Vigil is held on Saturday night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#x3)
- The soldiers kept vigil at the gate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#x4)
- Rat and Mole kept vigil all night by the river. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#x5)
- She kept a long vigil waiting for news. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#x6)
- Then he passed his vigils in Brugeford Chapel, and at dawn of day took his post on the Worm's Rock in the River Wear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/#x7)

### Note

Countable. Phrase: «keep (a) vigil». Adjective: vigilant (watchful). Related: vigilance.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «vigil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vigil/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«vigil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/vigil.html) on Mova free.