Etymologically
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vigilantia

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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]

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