Aberrant Behavior and Abstinence

Aberrant Behavior

• A financial director's aberrant behavior led to the police being called, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

Aesthetic

• An aesthetic refers to a set of principles guiding an artist's work or artistic movement.
• An artist may operate according to a peculiar aesthetic, in this case, only considering photographs with marine mammals worth publishing.

Ambiguity

• Ambiguity can lead to confusion, as seen when a coach's directions without pointing caused uncertainty among the team.

Ambivalence

• Sam felt ambivalent about studying for an exam, as it took time but improved his analytical skills.

Amelioration

• The book "Three Cups of Tea" tells the story of a western man's efforts to ameliorate poverty and lack of education in Afghanistan.

Amenity

• Shirley was generally amenable and agreed to go camping despite not liking the outdoors.

Amorphous

• A study plan can be amorphous, lacking structure, like a GRE study plan with random questions from multiple books.

Anomaly

• Climate change deniers believe extreme weather is anomalous and that temperatures will return to average.

Antipathy

• Maria had an antipathy for tour groups and would avoid them in museums.

Appeasement

• Neville Chamberlain's appeasement policy towards Hitler sent a message that Britain could be bullied.

Arbitrary

• The emperor's decree requiring citizens to pay him weekly homage is an example of an arbitrary rule.

Arduous

• An arduous task requires considerable mental effort and skill, like dealing with a cross-country journey.

Artful

• Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme was an artful fraud that stole billions from investors.

Ascetic

• An ascetic life is one of self-denial, like giving up wealth and power to live in poverty, inspiring followers.

Askance

• The old couple looked askance at the teenagers with piercings and unusual hairstyles, showing their disapproval.

Audacity

• Bill showed audacity by tracking down a bear that had raided their food camp, armed only with a flashlight.

Auspicious

• Despite an auspicious beginning, Mike's road trip became a series of mishaps, ending in disaster.

Austere

• Late Soviet architecture moved towards experimental territory, while the principal of the elementary school was a cold, austere woman.

Avaricious

• Avaricious desire is a sin, similar to gluttony or lust, and listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the Catholic Church.