vigilantia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [wɪ.ɡɪˈɫan.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [vi.d͡ʒiˈlan.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

vigilantia f (genitive vigilantiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin vigilāns (“watchful”) + -ia, from vigilō “to keep awake”, from vigil.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Terence, of vigilance.^[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant watchfulness, vigilance, alertness, as in Terence and Cicero, and in Pliny the Younger wakefulness, the habit of staying awake, as of his uncle's summa vigilantia.^[2][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means vigilance, watchfulness, wakefulness.^[5] Medieval Latin used it for nocturnal prayers.^[6] English vigilance (1560s) is from it through French.^[7]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][4]
• 1560s – English vigilance is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Vigilance, alertness.^[2][5]
2. Wakefulness.^[2][3]
3. (Medieval Latin) Night prayers.^[6]

Related words

• vigilāns
• vigilō
• vigilia
• English vigilance

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com