Approbation, Coquetry and Vitiate

Three words today: approbation, coquetry and vitiate

Approbation is a noun that means the act of approving; formal or official approval.

Coquetry is a verb that means dalliance; flirtation.

Vitiate is a verb that means:

1. to impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil.

2. to impair or weaken the effectiveness of.

3. to debase; corrupt; pervert.

4. to make legally defective or invalid; invalidate.

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The hot rays of the afternoon sun bore down on her head and back as she remained motionless on the hot pavement, standing ramrod straight at the position of attention, shoulder to shoulder next to the men on either side of her, trying to concentrate on not locking her knees so that she would not pass out. She didn't want to do anything that would vitiate this moment and her sense of being a good soldier; falling face forward in a heap was therefore not part of the plan. Wearing her dress uniform, skirt and pumps, and with her hair pulled up so it didn’t touch her collar, she felt not the slightest sense of coquetry. Instead she felt professional and capable, and very proud to receive this promotion, the first and yet most memorable of many. To her, it was an approbation from her superiors, and a vindication that she had made the right decision; her success was not just an illusion in her head. She belonged here and felt she was an integral part of an important mission; a job that was more than a livelihood, it was a community and a way of life, and it meant something to many people, irrespective of her parent’s disapproval.

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