Meanings
plural vigilancies
- archaicuncountableusuallyVigilance.
Thus the vigilancy and care of Captain Morgan was not sufficient to prevent every accident.
1922, Various, Great Pirate Stories3 more examples
this infinit confusion of opinions and sentences, which this goodly humane reason, by her certainty and cleare-sighted vigilancie brings forth in whatsoever it medleth withal […].
vigilancy, II.12When thou seest justice executed on any, thou maist inwardly take delight in his vigilancy, to punish offenders, because it tends to publique quiet, yet shew pity to the offender, and ever Constitute the defect of his morality, thy precaution.
1890, Moncure D. Conway, George Washington's Rules of CivilityAny simple, improvident, and foolish youth would be stirred up to vigilancy by a few experiences with "the subtlety of spies, the wonderful cunning of Inn-keepers and baudes and the great danger of his life."
1914, Clare Howard, English Travellers of the Renaissance
Origin
- Latinvigilantia
- Englishvigilancy
From Latin vigilantia.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
vigilancy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vigilancy
“vigilancy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vigilancy. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “vigilancy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vigilancy.
Source: vigilancy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.