/'vɪdʒɪl; `vɪdʒəl/
n
1 [U, C] (action or period of) staying awake, esp at night, to keep watch or to pray 保持清醒（尤指夜间）; 不眠（时刻）; 守夜; 夜间祷告
*tired out by long nightly vigils at her son's bedside （她）夜里长时间守护在儿子床前而疲惫不堪
* hold a candle-light vigil for peace 为和平而举行烛光祈祷.
2 eve of a religious festival, esp one observed by fasting 宗教节日的前夕（尤指斋戒的）
*the Easter vigil 复活节前夕.

n [U and C]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French;Origin: vigile, from Latin vigilia 'staying awake, keeping watch', from vigil 'awake']
a period of time, especially during the night, when you stay awake in order to pray, remain with someone who is ill, or watch for danger
　Eva and Paul kept a constant vigil by their daughter's hospital bedside.
a silent political protest in which people wait outside a building, especially during the night
silent/candlelit vigil
　2000 demonstrators held a candlelit vigil outside the embassy.