Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vigilant” come from?

Vigilant comes from French vigilant, from Latin vigilans, the present participle of vigilo, derived from Latin vigil meaning watchful, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European weǵ-.

vigilant (English): Watchful, especially for danger or disorder;...

Definitions

  1. Watchful, especially for danger or disorder;...

Ancestry of “vigilant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchvigilantvigilant
2Latinvigilanswatching; vigilant, watchful, alert; vigilant,...
3Latinvigilāre—
4Latinvigilawake, watching, alert; watchman, guard,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong

Words derived from “vigilant”

  • vigilantly
  • hypervigilant
  • pharmacovigilant
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- →