vigil light
1
8.3
- noun
:
luz de vigilia
- She lit a vigil light for her grandmother.
Examples
-
She knelt before the altar and lit a vigil light in memory of her grandmother.
-
Dozens of vigil lights flickered quietly in the darkened chapel during the midnight service.
-
He placed a fresh vigil light next to the statue of the saint and whispered a silent prayer.
-
Many worshippers place vigil lights at the altar.
-
The flickering vigil lights create a peaceful atmosphere in the quiet chapel as worshippers offer their prayers.
-
As she placed her prayer requests before the altar, she lit a vigil light to symbolize her devotion.
-
Visitors often admire the glowing vigil lights that illuminate the church during evening services.
Synonyms
6
8.0
A small candle often lit for prayers or wishes
A small candle lit in a church for prayer or memory
A stick of wax with a wick that gives light
How Devotional
1
8.3
61
2.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a candle lit for prayer or devotion' is directly derivable from combining 'vigil' (a period of wakefulness/prayer) with 'light' (a source of illumination), forming a standard noun+noun composition indicating a light used for a vigil. This compositional pattern is common across languages and contexts, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The noun vigil light names a small candle placed before a statue or altar. People would light a vigil, meaning a quiet watch, and a light to show 'prayer' or to 'remember' someone, so today it means a candle used as an act of devotion.