vigilance

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French vigilance, from Latin vigilantia

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈvɪdʒɪlɪns/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 307: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "weak vowel" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈvɪdʒɪləns/

Noun

vigilance (usually uncountable, plural vigilances)

  1. Alert watchfulness.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 8, in The Celebrity:
      I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed. And thus we came by a circuitous route to Mohair, the judge occupied by his own guilty thoughts, and I by others not less disturbing.
  2. Close and continuous attention.
    • 1837 March 4, Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address
      But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.
  3. (obsolete) A guard; a person set to watch.

Derived terms

Translations

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French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin vigilantia; equivalent to vigile +‎ -ance

Pronunciation

Noun

vigilance f (plural vigilances)

  1. vigilance

Further reading