Lewis & Short

vĭgil, ĭlis (gen. plur. vigilium, Liv. 10, 33, 6), adj. [vigeo], awake, on the watch, alert (class.; cf.: insomnis, exsomnis).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. Adj.: prius orto Sole vigil calamum et chartas et scrinia posco, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 113; 1, 2, 37: vigilum canum excubiae, id. C. 3, 16, 2: ales, i. e. the cock, Ov. M. 11, 597: Aurora, id. ib. 2, 112: custodia, id. ib. 12, 148 et saep.
      Transf., of things, wakeful, watchful, etc.: oculi, Verg. A. 4, 182: ignis, i. e. always burning, id. ib. 4, 200: lucernae, night-lamps, Hor. C. 3, 8, 14: auri vigili bibere, wakeful, listening, Stat. Achill. 2, 119: nox, Tac. A. 4, 48.
    2. B. Subst.: vĭgil, ĭlis, m., a watchman, sentinel: clamor a vigilibus fanique custodibus tollitur, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 94; Liv. 44, 33, 8; Ov. M. 13, 370: nocturni, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 195.
      Of such vigiles there were in Rome, from the time of Augustus, seven divisions, with their prefects and sub-prefects, constituting a regularly organized night-police, Suet. Aug. 30; Dig. 1, 15, 3; 47, 2, 56.
      Transf., a sentinel: mundi (sol et luna), Lucr. 5, 1436 (1434).
      Of cocks: nocturni, Plin. 10, 21, 24, § 46.
  2. II. Trop.: cura, wakeful, active, Ov. M. 3, 396; 15, 65: questus, uttered by night, Stat. S. 1, 2, 196.