I.gen. plur. vigilium, Liv. 10, 33, 6), adj. vigeo, awake, on the watch, alert (class.; cf.: insomnis, exsomnis).
I. Lit.
A. Adj.: “prius orto Sole vigil calamum et chartas et scrinia posco,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 113; 1, 2, 37: “vigilum canum excubiae,” id. C. 3, 16, 2: “ales,” i. e. the cock, Ov. M. 11, 597: “Aurora,” id. ib. 2, 112: “custodia,” id. ib. 12, 148 et saep.—Transf., of things, wakeful, watchful, etc.: “oculi,” Verg. A. 4, 182: “ignis,” i. e. always burning, id. ib. 4, 200: “lucernae,” night-lamps, Hor. C. 3, 8, 14: “auri vigili bibere,” wakeful, listening, Stat. Achill. 2, 119: “nox,” Tac. A. 4, 48.—
B. Subst.: vĭgil , ĭlis, m., a watchman, sentinel: “clamor a vigilibus fanique custodibus tollitur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 94; Liv. 44, 33, 8; Ov. M. 13, 370: “nocturni,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 195.— Of such vigiles there were in Rome, from the time of Augustus, seven divisions, with their prefects and sub-prefects, constituting a regularly organized night-police, Suet. Aug. 30; Dig. 1, 15, 3; 47, 2, 56.—Transf., a sentinel: “mundi (sol et luna),” Lucr. 5, 1436 (1434).—Of cocks: “nocturni,” Plin. 10, 21, 24, § 46.—
II. Trop.: “cura,” wakeful, active, Ov. M. 3, 396; 15, 65: “questus,” uttered by night, Stat. S. 1, 2, 196.
