Word of the Day : March 14, 2018

invigilate \in-VIJ-uh-layt\ verb

Definition

1 : to keep watch; especially : to supervise students at an examination

2 : supervise, monitor

Did You Know?

Keep your eyes open and you're sure to spot a few relatives of today's word. Invigilate is a descendant of the Latin verb vigilare, meaning "to stay awake." As you may have guessed, vigilare is the ancestor of our adjective vigilant ("alertly watchful"), and it also gives us reveille ("a signal to wake up in the morning," via French réveillez) and surveillance ("close watch, supervision," via French surveiller). Invigilate has been a member of the English language since the mid-16th century.

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Aired March 14, 2018

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