Also 7 -ence. [a. F. vigilance (= Sp. and Pg. vigilancia, It. vigilanza), or ad. L. vigilantia: see next and -ANCE.]
1. The quality or character of being vigilant; watchfulness against danger or any action on the part of others; alertness or closeness of observation.
1570. Levins, Manip., 22. Vigilance, vigilantia.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 14. In regard of which enormities, it behooved parents to represse and bridle their wilde and untamed affections with great care and vigilance.
1610. Shaks., Temp., III. iii. 15. For now they are oppress’d with trauaile, they Will not, nor cannot vse such vigilance As when they are fresh.
1656. in Nicholas Papers (Camden), III. 261. Ye discouery and preuention of his designes is attributed to ye vigilance of Monke.
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 18, ¶ 3. A Soldier’s [profession] … should put him upon this religious Vigilance.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. xi. 253. Thus we kept up our hopes, and did not abate of our vigilance.
1781. T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 284. His vigilance has … supplied the want of force in preventing the enemy from crossing the river.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. Ind., I. 45. The King is to provide for his safety by vigilance, and a state of preparation.
1875. Helps, Soc. Press., iii. 40. Does not this one fact show what constant vigilance it requires to preserve the public health in a large city.
† b. A guard or watch. Obs.–1
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 580. In at this Gate none pass The vigilance here plac’t.
2. The state of being awake; spec. in Path., abnormal wakefulness, inability to sleep, insomnia.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. i. § 3. 92. That moderate Degree of Contraction … which is observable in all the Muscles … during Vigilance.
1777. Priestley, Matt. & Spir., I. iv. 36. That imperfect manner [of thinking] which we call dreaming, and which is nothing more than an approach to a state of vigilance.
1858. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Pervigilium,… disinclination to sleep; watching; vigilance.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 25. The probability of its occurrence is still further increased if, in addition to a continuously high temperature, unusual restlessness or vigilance be present.
3. attrib., as vigilance committee (U.S.), a self-appointed committee for the maintenance of justice and order in an imperfectly organized community; hence, vigilance man, work.
1858. New York Tribune, 30 Sept. (Bartlett). As gross a violation of justice as vigilance committee or lynching mob was ever guilty of.
1877. Harrisburg Daily Telegraph, 31 July, 4/2. The incidents of last week’s siege and watch—of vigilance guards—sentries on their lonely watch—awkward squads and patrol duty—will never all be written.
1871. Morley, Crit. Misc., I. 357. Whether the resource of the strongest be the thunders of Sinai or the rope of the Vigilance Committee.
1885. W. A. Coote, in Life J. B. Paton (1914), xii. 211. The ordinary phases of vigilance work had failed to arouse their enthusiasm.
1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends (1893), 84. They … had organized a Vigilance Committee before they built the town of Hamilton. Ibid., 85. The best citizens of these places were Vigilance men.
