la

feminine

/vɛj/

#2033 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

the day before, eve; a night watch

Word origin

From Latin vigilia ('a keeping awake, a watch'), from vigil ('awake'). English 'vigil' and 'vigilant' come from the same word, and the sense of the day before survives in Christmas Eve.

Origin: Latin
Root: vigilia
English cognates: vigil, vigilant

Grammar

Genderfeminine

Pluralveilles

Examples

We arrived on Christmas Eve.

, .

The day before, it had rained all day.

l' .

The night watches left him very tired.

She packed her things the day before leaving.

Those vigils at the patient's side went on for hours.

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Used in

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French · Free printables

veille: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the French word "veille" (the day before, eve; a night watch): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 41.