Middle English Dictionary Entry
viǧilī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | viǧilī(e n. |
| Etymology | OF vigilie (var. of vigile) & L vigilia. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. vigil(e n.
1.
(a) The evening or afternoon preceding a prescribed holy day, marked by vigils or other devotional exercises, esp. fasting; also used of a non-Christian observance [quot. a1425];
(b) the evening or day preceding a specific holy day or festival, used as a means of specifying or reckoning dates; the ~ of assumpcioun (the nativite);
(c) a public gathering of religious character taking place on the vigil of a holy day or festival.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6)301/11 : Ge schulen eoten from aster oðet þe halirode dei…euchedei twien bute fridaȝes oðer umbridaȝes, ȝeoncdaȝes, vigilies.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.416 : Vigilies and fastyng dayes, alle þise late I passe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)John 19.42 : There thei putten Jhesu, for the vigilie of Jewis feeste, for the sepulcre was niȝ.
- (1443) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)291 : The seide prest nedyth to be sent fore by the Maisters of the bretherhode of the seid Clerkys for the tyme beyng for their vigilies, Masses, & quarterdays.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)20/15 : Sumtyme þey…brekyn þe fastis þt owȝtyn to ben holde, As…vigilijs.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)136.536,538 (v.2:p.378) : Laurence .. hath .. thre singuler preuilegys as touchyng hys office in holy cherche: the fyrste ys in a vigoure [read: vigilie], the whiche he hath alone amonge othere martirs, and here yt ys to be notyd that .. the vigilyis of seyntys byn turnyd into fastys.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.287 : Men vsyn in Satirdayys & in vigilijs to ryngyn holy at mydday.
b
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)189 : The yeer of grace a thowsend treuly Foure hundryd and also thre and fourty, In the vigylye of the Natyuyte Of hyr that is gemme of virgynyte…Me thowt it were ageyn cheryte Hys desyr lengere for to denye.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)6.87 (v.1:p.83) : Oones in the vigilie of Cristis byrthe our ladie appiered to Sent Hugh of Cloyne, with hir sonne in hir arme.
- ?a1500(a1471) Brut-1461(2) (Lyell 34)40 : The king sailled forth in to Normandie…and landid at Kitcaux, in the vigily of Assumpcion of our Lady.
c
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.377 : It is ful fair to been ycleped madame And goon to vigilies al bifore.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.556 : I made my visitacions To vigilies and to processions, To prechyng eek and to thise pilgrymages.
2.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)106/15 : Of masse of Requiem for bodi present, of whom vigilies were done bi note in a Ferial day, þey schal do as in a festival day.