1. period of wakefulness during the night (particularly for the purpose of watching or guarding); time of prayer on the eve of a religious holiday. vigilvigil , n. [oe. vigile, l. vigilia, from vigil awake, watchful, probably akin to e. wake: cf. f. vigile. see: wake, v. i., and cf. reveille, surveillance, vedette, vegetable, vigor.]