| arbitrary |
resulting from personal opinions, wishes, or feelings instead of from a rule or reason. |
| balmy |
soft, mild, and soothing. |
| calamity |
an event causing great harm, pain, or destruction; disaster. |
| constructive |
serving to make better or more clear; helpful. |
| defamation |
the act of causing damage to the reputation of a person, group, or institution by making unfavorable and unjust statements. |
| delve |
to make a careful, thoroughgoing search, as for information. |
| deviation |
difference or divergence, as from a typical pattern, accepted social norms, political orthodoxy, or the like. |
| enthusiastic |
having or showing great interest. |
| gape |
to stare in surprise, awe, or wonder, especially with the mouth open. |
| humanitarian |
characterized by concern for improving the welfare of people. |
| optimist |
one who usually or in a specific instance expects a good outcome. (Cf. pessimist.) |
| paternal |
having to do with or typical of a father. |
| prompt |
to cause to act. |
| sniper |
a soldier who shoots at enemy troops from a concealed position. |
| statistical |
of, concerning, or based on information in the form of numbers that can be used to understand a complex issue or test the validity of a hypothesis. |