vigil
/ˈvɪdʒɪl/noun
1
- a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch or pray（常指夜间）监视; 警戒; 守夜; 夜间祷告：
my birdwatching vigils lasted for hours
我夜间观察野鸟持续了好几个小时
as he lay in a coma the family kept vigil.
他昏迷不醒时, 家人守护着。
1.1
- a stationary, peaceful demonstration in support of a particular cause, typically without speeches静坐请愿。
2
- (in the Christian Church) the eve of a festival or holy day as an occasion of religious observance（基督教）节日前夕。
2.1
vigils
nocturnal devotions守夜祈祷。
词源
Middle English (in sense 2)： via Old French from Latin vigilia, from vigil 'awake'.