vigilant (vijilant)

[F. vigilant = Sp. Pg. It. vigilante, circumspect; cautious; wary. Be sober, be vigilant . Take your places and be vigilant. 1 Pet. v. 8. Shak., 1 Hen. VI., ii. 1. 1. Gospel takes up the rod which Law lets fall; Mercy is vigilant when Justice sleeps. In = Sp. Pg. It. vigilia, a watching, vigil, ful (ef. AS AS. wacol, watchful), see wakel. Hence (from L. vigil ) vigilant, etc.] 1. The act of keeping awake; abstinence or forbearance from sleep at the natural or ordinary hours of rest; the state of being awake during the natural time for sleep; sleeple ne ; wakefulne ; watch: commonly in the plural. There is nothing that wears out a fine face like the vigils of the card-table. Add is on, Guardian, No. 120. There's Zanze's vigilant taper; safe are we! Browning, In a Gondola. =Syn. 1. Wakeful , etc. See watchful .