夜よ伽とぎ

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

night attendance; watching over someone through the night

Refers to a guard, nurse, or attendant staying awake all night to care for or watch over someone. Often used in historical or formal contexts.

• 病びょう床しょうの主しゅ君くんの夜よ伽とぎを命めいじられた。

  He was ordered to attend his bedridden lord through the night.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

sleeping with a man (at his bidding)

Historical or literary term for a woman spending the night with a man at his request, often in a courtesan or servant context.

• 遊ゆう女じょが客きゃくの夜よ伽とぎをする。

  A courtesan sleeps with a client at his bidding.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

overnight vigil before burial

Traditional practice of staying awake all night with the deceased before the funeral. Now largely replaced by 通夜 (つや).

• 昔むかしは、遺い体たいのそばで夜よ伽とぎをする風ふう習しゅうがあった。

  In the past, there was a custom of keeping an overnight vigil beside the body.