Where does “vigilante” come from?

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

vigilante (Italian): present participle of vigilare; vigilant,...

Definitions

  1. present participle of vigilare; vigilant,...

Ancestry of “vigilante”, step by step

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