Where does “vigilante” come from?

vigilante (French) comes from French vigilant, from Latin vigilans, from Latin vigilāre, from Latin vigil, from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- — lively, awake; strong.

vigilante (French): feminine singular of vigilant

Definitions

  1. feminine singular of vigilant

Ancestry of “vigilante”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchvigilantvigilant
2Latinvigilanswatching; vigilant, watchful, alert; vigilant,...
3Latinvigilāre—
4Latinvigilawake, watching, alert; watchman, guard,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- →Every word from Latin vigil →Every word from Latin vigilāre →