Tuesdays with Morrie — Vocabulary
Mitch Albom
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	11	top 1000
witherwither → withered:shriveled (wrinkled as they dried out) The grapes withered on the vine.more Show sample from book Because Morrie sat in the wheelchair, the camera never caught his withered legs.10 more wither → withered:shriveled (shrunken and weakened) Show general definition for wither (as in: wither on the vine) to shrivel (wrinkle and contract -- usually from lack of water)
	9	top 2000
detachdetach → detached:emotionally uninvolved (separated from emotions) She spoke in a cold, detached manner as though she didn't care about him anymore.more Show sample from book Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment.8 more separate Show general definition to separate something from something else (physically or emotionally)
	1	top 2000
approachapproach → approaching:getting nearer Winter is approaching.more Show sample from book When his breathing approached normal again, I cleared my throat and said I knew he was tired, so I would be back next Tuesday, and I expected him to be a little more alert, thank you.2 more approach → approached:got near Show general definition for approach (as in: approached the city) to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
	2	top 500
approach#2method (way of doing something) Perhaps I just need to work harder, but I may need an entirely different approach to the problem.more Show sample from book But there's a better approach.2 more technique (way of doing something) Show general definition for approach (as in: use the best approach) a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
	1	top 100
positivepositive → positively:in a good or beneficial manner Lower interest rates positively affected home sales.†more Show sample from book It's more than the negative that you're going to die, it's also the positive that you understand you're going to die, and that you live a better life because of it.1 more good or beneficial Show general definition for positive (as in: had a positive effect) good or beneficial
	1
positive#2optimistic With a positive attitude and some effort, I'm sure we can make this work.more Show sample from book I asked Morrie how he managed to stay positive through that.1 more Show general definition for positive (as in: a positive attitude) optimistic (expecting or focusing on good things); or agreeable
	5	top 1000
sereneserene → serenely:calmly and peacefully While I lie awake worrying, she sleeps serenely.more Show sample from book I want to die serenely.4 more serene → serenely:in a manner that is calm and untroubled Show general definition calm and untroubled
	4	top 500
perishbe destroyed or cease to exist ...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.Abraham Lincoln — Gettysburg Addressmore Show sample from book Love each other or perish.3 more cease to exist Show general definition to die -- especially in an unnatural way or: to be destroyed or cease to exist Show editor's word notes You may encounter an informal expression, "Perish the thought." It means that the speaker hopes the thought will cease to exist and the thing it represents will never happen.
	4	top 1000
compassionsympathy for another's suffering and wanting to help If I see one hungry child, I feel compassion, but when I hear of a million hungry children, I'm overwhelmed and turn my mind to other things.more Show sample from book We talked about one of Morrie's favorite subjects, compassion, and why our society had such a shortage of it.3 more sympathy for another's suffering
	3	top 500
lamentlament → lamented:expressed grief about She lamented the loss.more Show sample from book In a strange way, I envied the quality of Morrie's time even as I lamented its diminishing supply.2 more lament → lamented:mourned (express grief) Show general definition to express grief or regret
	2	top 100
perspectivea sensible view of a situation She loses perspective and continually wants to change the plan in a manner that depends on the most recent complaint.more Show sample from book The average person is so fogged up by all this, he has no perspective on what's really important anymore.1 more sensible view Show general definition for perspective (as in: Keep it in perspective) a sensible view of a situation that considers its different parts in a balanced way
	2	top 100
negativenegative → negatively:in a bad or harmful manner Higher interest rates negatively affected home sales.more Show sample from book … I would raise my hand, as if I was going to make a negative gesture, and then I would wave and smile.1 more bad Show general definition for negative (as in: had a negative effect) bad or harmful
	3	top 1000
clarityclearness (the quality of being clearly expressed) The speaker presented her argument with such clarity that even those unfamiliar with the topic could easily understand her main points.more Show sample from book If some mystical clarity of thought came when you looked death in the eye, then I knew Morrie wanted to share it.†2 more seen, expressed, or understood clearly… Show general definition seen, expressed, or understood clearly; or a degree of transparency such as the quality of clear water
	3	top 1000
dwindlegradually decrease As the night wore on, the crowd at the concert began to dwindle.more Show sample from book But I can sit here with my dwindling days and look at what I think is important in life.†2 more dwindle → dwindling:decreasing Show general definition to gradually become smaller, fewer, or weaker
	7	top 500
thesisa formal and lengthy research paper advancing a new point of view Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan's undergraduate thesis was a detailed history of the rise and fall of New York's Socialist Party in the early 20th Century.more Show sample from book And, with his help, by spring I have a 112 page thesis, researched, footnoted, documented, and neatly bound in black leather.6 more research paper Show general definition for thesis (as in: her Master's thesis) a formal and lengthy research paper advancing a new point of view -- usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree
	4
neurologythe branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system (including the brain) In the United States a specialty in neurology requires 8 years of post-undergraduate education and clinical training.more Show sample from book The lab report came back suggesting a neurological problem, and Morrie was brought in for yet another series of tests.3 more neurology → neurological:brain
	3	top 2000
defersubmit I defer to her expertise.more Show sample from book Often he defers to their words,2 more defer → defers:submits Show general definition for defer (as in: deferred to her wishes) submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
	2	top 1000
inconsequentialunimportant Once I was accepted in college, high school work seemed inconsequential.†more Show sample from book Because I worked among rich and famous athletes, I convinced myself that my needs were realistic, my greed inconsequential compared to theirs.1 more not important
	2	top 2000
insidiousinsidious → insidiously:in a manner not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time The debt grew insidiously--just a little at a time and always for a good purpose.Alan Greenspan — The Age of Turbulencemore Show sample from book What ... did Morrie dread the most about his slow, insidious decay?1 more harmful over time Show general definition not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time or: treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
	2
synagoguesynagogue → synagogues:Jewish houses of worship They were arrested for planning to bomb a series of synagogues.more Show sample from book And in the mornings he would go to synagogue to say Yizkor—the memorial prayer for the dead—for his mother.†1 more a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith Show general definition a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith