pernoctations

Noun

pernoctation (countable and uncountable, plural pernoctations)

1. (formal, uncountable) The action of abiding through the night at a location; (countable) an instance of this; an overnight stay.
   • The next morning they [Mary and Joseph] return back with ſpeed toward Jeruſalem; and at night repairing to their former lodging, neither there it ſeems heard they any thing of him [Jesus] (which argues, for this time of his abſence his pernoctation in the Temple), and ſo they muſt paſs this ſecond...1685, R. H. [pseudonym; Abraham Woodhead], “Part I”, in An Historical Narration of the Life and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [s.n.], →OCLC, § 113, page 88
2. (formal, uncountable) The action of walking about at night, especially as a vigil or watch; (countable) an instance of this.
   • In 1599 Sʳ Robert Leech and Sʳ John Meades were guilty of pernoctation and breaking windows. They had been sent to prison by the Proctor.1958, W[illiam] C[onrad] Costin, The History of St. John’s College, Oxford, 1598–1890, Oxford, Oxfordshire: University Press, →OCLC, page 21
3. (countable, formal, obsolete) A religious watch kept during normal sleeping hours, during which prayers or other ceremonies are performed; a vigil.
   • [I]n general the veſpers begin a little before ſunſet; the matins at four o'clock in the morning, and the liturgy or communion about nine; and when the vigil, or pernoctation, is performed, that ſervice begins after ſunſet; and there is no ſervice, in the morning following, till the communion.1772, John Glen King, “The Order of the After-vespers”, in The Rites and Ceremonies of the Greek Church, in Russia; […], London: […] W. Owen, […]; J[ames] Dodsley, […]; J[ohn] Rivington, […]; and T....