vigilare

to watch over

verb vee-jee-LAH-reh Rare

Origin: Latin vigilare, from vigil (watchful)

Also means

to supervise

Usage Note

Vigilare is used in formal and institutional contexts: police vigilano on public order, teachers vigilano over students. The noun vigile means a guard or municipal police officer (vigile urbano). Do not confuse with vegliare (to keep vigil, to stay awake at a bedside) — similar sound, quite different meaning. It takes avere as auxiliary.

Examples

"Le guardie vigilano sull'ordine pubblico."

Natural Translation

The guards watch over public order.

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