vigilaste

Vigilaste is a verb form in Spanish. It is the second-person singular preterite (tú) of the verb vigilar, meaning to watch, monitor, or guard. This form indicates a completed action in the past carried out by the person addressed as “you.”

Etymology and sense: Vigilar comes from the Latin vigilare, to be awake or watchful. In modern Spanish, vigilaste is used to describe that someone watched or kept watch over a person, place, or object. The verb can take direct objects, as in vigilar la casa or vigilar al niño, and is commonly accompanied by time references such as ayer, anoche, o durante la noche.

Usage: Vigilaste is common in both Spain and Latin America, in spoken and written contexts. Examples include: “Ayer vigilaste la puerta hasta que llegó la policía.” “Tú vigilaste la estación durante la tormenta.” It contrasts with imperfect forms like vigilabas (ongoing past action) or with present perfect forms such as has vigilado (past action with present relevance).

Conjugation note: Vigilaste is the preterite form for tú. Other forms of vigilar follow regular -ar conjugation patterns in various tenses (present: vigilas, vigila; past imperfect: vigilabas; preterite for other persons: vigilaron, vigilamos, etc.).

See also: vigilar (basic verb), other tense forms, and related terms for watchfulness or surveillance.