1. The day before.
2. The period immediately before something.

ETYM Old Eng. vigile, Latin vigilia, from vigil awake, watchful, probably akin to Eng. wake: cf. French vigile. Related to Wake, Reveille, Surveillance, Vedette, Vegetable, Vigor.
1. A devotional watch (especially on the eve of a religious festival); SYN. watch.
2. A period of sleeplessness.

ETYM Old Fren. waite, guaite, gaite, French guet watch, watching, guard, from Old High Germ. wahta. Related to Wait.
(Homonym: weight).
The act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something); SYN. waiting.