Vigilance

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Vigilance \Vig"i*lance\, n. [L. vigilantia: cf. F. vigilance.]
     1. The quality or state of being vigilant; forbearance of
        sleep; wakefulness.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Watchfulness in respect of danger; care; caution;


        circumspection. --Cowper.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And flaming ministers to watch and tend
              Their earthly charge; of these the vigilance
              I dread.                              --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Guard; watch. [Obs.] "In at this gate none pass the
        vigilance here placed." --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Vigilance committee}, a volunteer committee of citizens for
        the oversight and protection of any interest, esp. one
        organized for the summary suppression and punishment of
        crime, as when the processes of law appear inadequate.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  vigilance
       n 1: the process of paying close and continuous attention [syn: {watchfulness},
             {alertness}]
       2: vigilant attentiveness; "he keeps a weather eye open for
          trouble" [syn: {watchfulness}, {weather eye}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  30 Moby Thesaurus words for "vigilance":
     alertness, attentiveness, caution, circumspection, custodianship,
     custody, eagle eye, guard, guardedness, guardianship, invigilation,
     lookout, monitoring, observance, peeled eye, proctoring, prudence,
     qui vive, sharp eye, stewardship, surveillance, tout, vigil,
     wariness, watch, watch and ward, watchful eye, watchfulness,
     watching, weather eye
  
  

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  VIGILANCE. Proper attention in proper time. 
       2. The law requires a man who has a claim to enforce it in proper time, 
  while the adverse party has it in his power to defend himself; and if by his 
  neglect to do so, he cannot afterwards establish such claim, the maxim 
  vigilantibus non dormientibus leges subserviunt, acquires full force in such 
  case. For example, a claim not sued for within the time required by the acts 
  of limitation, will be presumed to be paid; and the mere possession of 
  corporeal real property, as if in fee simple, and without admitting any 
  other ownership for sixty years, is a sufficient title against all the 
  world, and cannot be impeached by any dormant claim. See 3 Bl. Com. 196, n; 
  4 Co. 11 b. Vide Twenty years.