Etymologically
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vigilo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word vigilo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (vigil)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwɪ.ɡɪ.ɫoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈviː.d͡ʒi.lo][1]

Forms

vigilō (present infinitive vigilāre, perfect active vigilāvī, supine vigilātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is a verb formed from vigil “awake, watchful”.[2][3][4] Wiktionary takes vigil back to Proto-Italic *weglis, from Proto-Indo-European *weǵ- (“to be strong, lively”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius in the Annals has some men lying in ambush and keeping awake while others rest, and Plautus has a man dreaming while awake.[2][5] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant to stay awake, often for work or nightly pursuits, and to be awake after sleep, as in the Plautine call vigilā “wake up!”.[2] Cicero says he stayed awake until late at night.[3][4] With an object it meant to spend time awake on a task, and Gellius speaks of vigiliās vigilāre “to keep watches”.[2][5] Figuratively it was to be watchful or alert, as in the Plautine vigilandum est semper.[2][1]

Its present participle vigilāns gave English vigilant in the late 15th century, and through Spanish vigilante English vigilante in 1856.[7]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of men keeping awake in ambush.[2][6]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of waking up and of being watchful.[2][6]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius writes of keeping watches.[5][6]
  • late 15th century – English vigilant is recorded.[7]
  • 1856 – English vigilante is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To stay awake, keep watch at night.[2][3]
  2. To be awake, wake up.[2][1]
  3. To spend time awake on a task; to make while watching.[2][1]
  4. To be watchful, vigilant.[2][5]

Word family

  • advigilō
  • ēvigilō
  • invigilō
  • pervigilō
  • vigilāns
  • vigilanter
  • vigilantia
  • vigilātē
  • vigilātiō
  • vigilāx
  • vigil
  • vigilia
  • vigiliārium
  • English vigil
  • English vigilant
  • English vigilante

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Vigilo.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/vigilo. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·