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Where does the word "vigil" come from? It comes from Latin vigilia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "vigil" come from? It comes from Latin vigilia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Vigil’s story begins in Latin: vigilia meant “wakefulness, watch.” From 'vigil', awake, the root of 'vigilant'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as vigile. Night watch before a holy day. It reached English by 1200s as vigil. Candlelight 'vigils' date from the 1900s. Today, vigil means a period of staying awake to watch or pray.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vigilia "wakefulness, watch", from 'vigil', awake, the root of 'vigilant'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval vigile "eve of a feast", night watch before a holy day.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s vigil "eve of a feast", candlelight 'vigils' date from the 1900s.