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veillée

evening vigil, wake

noun veh-YEH Rare

Usage Note

Veillée describes an evening gathering — traditionally a social vigil around a fire or a watch kept beside a deceased person before burial (veillée funèbre). In modern usage it also refers to a campfire gathering (veillée de camp). The verb veiller means both 'to stay up' and 'to watch over'.

Examples

"La veillée funèbre a réuni toute la famille."

Natural Translation

The wake brought the whole family together.

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