1. VOCABULARY:
“Tuesdays with Morrie”

2. 1.wither 9.inherent
2.detach 10.narcissis3c
3.serene 11.perish
4.innate 12.exuberant
5.stagnate 13.nostalgia
6.insidious 14.imminent
7.lament 15.aphorism
8.ambivalent

3. wither
1
Although Morrieʼs body had begun to wither, his
spirit was very much alive.
to
become
dry
and
shriveled;
fall
in
to
decay
or
decline
(v.)

4. detach
2
It is healthy to detach ourselves from emotions; we
should experience them fully, but then detach.
disconnect
from
or
separate
from
(v.)

5. serene
3
Morrie enjoyed watching life continue outside his window,
and felt a sense of serenity while gazing at nature.
calm,
peaceful,
untroubled;
tranquil
(adj.)

6. innate
4
It was clear to Mitch, that Morrie had an innate
ability to connect with people.
natural;
something
you
are
born
with
(adj.)

7. stagnate
5
He refused to let his life stagnate simply because he
was dying; instead, he turned death into one of the
most important lessons he ever taught..
cease
to
flow
or
move;
stop
developing
(v.)

8. insidious
6
As a result of the ALS, Morrie began to notice the
insidious decay of his body.
proceeding
in
a
gradual,
subtle
way
but
with
harmful
effects
(adj.)

9. lament
7
Rather than lamenting the news about his dying
professor, Mitch decided to visit him every Tuesday
and learn from him in the process.
a
passionate
expression
of
grief
or
sorrow
(n.)
to
mourn,
or
express
deep
grief
about
(v.)

10. ambivalent
8
Since Mitchʼs brother wanted his solitude, Mitch was
ambivalent about contacting him when he became ill.
having
mixed
feelings
or
contradictory
ideas
about
someone
or
something
(adj.)

11. inherent
9
It was Morrieʼs belief that we are all inherently
good, and that we turn evil only when threatened in
some way.
exisAng
in
someone
or
something
as
an
essenAal
aBribute;
intrinsic
(adj.)

12. narcissistic
10
“Arenʼt we all a little narcissistic?” he asked Morrie.
excessive
interest
in
one’s
self
or
one’s
appearance
(n.)

13. perish
11
“Love each other or perish,” is one of Morrieʼs most
poignant aphorisms.
to
die
in
a
violent,
sudden,
or
unAmely
way
(v.)

14. exuberant
12
In a state of exuberance, Morrie swore he would
live longer than anyone he knew.
filled
with
energy
and
excitement
(adj.)

15. nostalgia
13
Occasionally he would succumb to nostalgia, but
he preferred to focus on the moment at hand.
a
senAmental
longing
or
wisEul
affecAon
for
the
past
(n.)

16. imminent
14
Death was imminent--he knew it and could feel it--but he
did everything he could to not let death frighten him.
about
to
happen
(adj.)

17. aphorism
15
Morrie had a slew of aphorisms; one of his favorites
was “When you learn how to die, you learn how to
live.”
an
observaAon
or
saying
that
contains
general
truth
(v.)