stand sentinel
The phrase "stand sentinel" originates from military contexts where soldiers keep watch, but it is now used more broadly to describe any vigilant or protective stance.
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Definition
C1Military
(formal)To keep watch or guard over a specific area.
Example
- The soldier was ordered to stand sentinel at the entrance of the base.
C1General
(figurative)To maintain a vigilant or protective presence.
Example
- The ancient oak tree seemed to stand sentinel over the village, watching over it through the centuries.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "stand sentinel":
keep vigilon guardwatch and wardkeep a lookouthold the fortmain guardguard of honourstand innight watchmanstand bystand fastguard bandstand stillmind the storechanging of the guardfire watchstand pat