Capital High School
April Word of the Day

4/1 colloquial (kul OH kwee ul) adj. informality of language; street language

A sample colloquial expression commonly used is, “Wuz up?”

4/2 pertinent (PUR tuh nunt) adj. relavant; of concern; to the point

Mark’s remarks on patriotism were pertinent to the July Fourth celebration.

4/3 retort (ri TOHRT) v.- to reply in a sharp fashion; n. – a biting remark

Do you ever make a retort when someone does something you don’t like?

4/4 waive (wayv) v. to forget; put aside

The bank waived the returned check fee because the bank made the mistake.

4/7 garbled (GAR buld) adj. confused and unclear; mixed up; distorted

He left a garbled message on the answering machine.

4/8 discombobulate (dis kam BOB yoo layt) v. to upset composure of; to throw into state

of confusion

I felt discombobulated this morning when I overslept; nothing would go right for me!

4/9 charlatan (SHAR luh tun) n. quack; fraud

He was a charlatan when he tried to sell me the junky car as if it were in good shape.

4/10 anemic (uh NEE mik) adj. lacking power or vitality

Jill’s anemic condition was caused primarily by her unhealthy diet.

4/11 deference (DEF u runs) n. respect for another’s view or wishes

The family showed deference to the elderly woman’s desire to always wear red hats.

4/14 flippant (FLIP unt) adj. showing a rude attitude; shallowly humorous; disrespectful

Flippant with the judge in traffic court, the man was charged with contempt of court.

4/15 skittish (SKIT ish) adj. nervous and easily frightened; jumpy

The girls became skittish whenever they heard a loud noise!

4/16 vigil (VIJ ul) n. a watch kept during sleeping hours

The night watchman’s vigil lasted until 6:00 A.M.

4/17 rescind (ruh SIND) v. to take back or make invalid; to revoke

The payment was rescinded when the work on the building was found to be faulty.

4/21 snit (snit) n. agitated or irritated state; excited distress

The teacher was in a snit because the students weren’t studying for the test.

4/22 pyromaniac (pye roe MAY nee ak) n. person with compulsion to set things on fire

Many arsonists are pyromaniacs because they set fires without monetary gain.

4/23 notorious (noh TOR ee us) adj. known for something bad; infamous; blatant

The handsome gentleman was really the notorious jewel thief from London.

4/24 livid (LIV id) adj. extremely angry; full of rage; furious

The rude letter from his boss made Steve so livid he couldn’t see straight.

4/25 hoard (hoard) v. to accumulate for future use; stockpile

If there were a shortage of sugar, people would hoard all the sugar they could get.

4/28 exacerbate (ig ZAS ur bayt) v. to make worse

Skipping classes will exacerbate his bad grades!

4/29 articulate (ahr TIK yuh layt) v. to speak or pronounce clearly and distinctly

When children first learn to talk, they do not articulate very well.

4/30 chagrin (shuh GRIN) n. humiliation; disappointment

Much to Mike’s chagrin, he tripped on the stage and fell during graduation.