vigilans

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈwɪ.ɡɪ.ɫãːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈviː.d͡ʒi.lans]^[1]

Forms

vigilāns (genitive vigilantis, comparative vigilantior, superlative vigilantissimus, adverb vigilanter); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle of vigilō “to stay awake, keep watch”, from vigil “awake, watchful”.^[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant wakeful, watchful, of watchmen, and in general vigilant, alert, careful, as in Cicero, who has the comparative and superlative.^[2][5]

It gave English vigilant in the late 15th century, through Old French vigilant and directly.^[4] Spanish vigilante “watchman” gave American English vigilante in 1856, a member of a vigilance committee.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of an alert person.^[5][3]
• late 15th century – English vigilant is recorded.^[4]
• 1856 – American English vigilante is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Wakeful, watchful, vigilant, alert.^[2][5]

Related words

• vigilō
• vigil
• vigilantia
• English vigilant
• English vigilante

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.