Definition

Noun: A person, typically a soldier or guard, whose job is to keep watch and guard a place or group of people from danger or unauthorized entry. The role involves vigilance and being stationed at a specific post.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The sentinel stood motionless at the castle gate, scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.
  • Security sentinels were posted around the perimeter of the military base.
  • In the quiet forest, the old oak tree stood like a silent sentinel over the clearing.

Advanced Usage

• "to stand sentinel": To act as a guard or watchful protector over something.
  • Ancient statues stand sentinel over the entrance to the temple.
• "to post a sentinel": To assign someone to a guard duty position.
  • The captain ordered his men to post a sentinel at the camp's entrance for the night.

Variants and Related Words

• Sentry (n): A soldier stationed to keep guard or to control access to a place. This is a very close synonym.
  • The sentry challenged anyone approaching the gate.
• Sentinel event (n): In healthcare, a serious, unexpected occurrence involving death or serious injury, signaling the need for immediate investigation. (This is a specialized compound term).
• Watchman (n): A person employed to look after an empty building, especially at night.

Synonyms

• Guard: A person who protects or keeps watch.
• Lookout: A person stationed to keep watch for danger.
• Watch: The act or duty of observing for danger; also can refer to a person or group performing this duty.

Related Phrases

• Relieve a sentinel: To take over the guard duty from the current sentry.
  • Private Jones was ordered to relieve the sentinel at 0400 hours.
• Sentry duty: The task or period of time spent acting as a guard.
  • He was assigned to sentry duty from midnight until dawn.

Idioms

• (As) vigilant as a sentinel: Extremely watchful and alert.
  • The cybersecurity team must be as vigilant as a sentinel to prevent attacks.
• Lone sentinel: Emphasizes a single guard watching over something, often implying isolation or solemn duty.
  • The lighthouse keeper was the lone sentinel against the treacherous rocks.

Noun

1. a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event