Grade 5: "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

Don't strike out! Learn these vocabulary words from Ernest Lawrence Thayer's 1888 poem "Casey at the Bat."
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. patron
    someone who supports or champions something
    And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
    A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
  2. despair
    a state in which all hope is lost or absent
    A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
    Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
  3. eternal
    continuing forever or indefinitely
    A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
    Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
  4. precede
    come before
    But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
    And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;
  5. former
    the first of two or the first mentioned of two
    But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
    And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake;
  6. latter
    the second of two or the second mentioned of two
    But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
    And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake;
  7. stricken
    affected by something overwhelming
    So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
    For there seemed but little chance of Casey’s getting to the bat.
  8. multitude
    a large gathering of people
    So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
    For there seemed but little chance of Casey’s getting to the bat.
  9. melancholy
    a feeling of thoughtful sadness
    So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
    For there seemed but little chance of Casey’s getting to the bat.
  10. recoil
    spring back, as from a forceful thrust
    It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
    For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.
  11. bearing
    characteristic way of holding one's body
    There was ease in Casey’s manner as he stepped into his place;
    There was pride in Casey’s bearing and a smile lit Casey’s face.
  12. defiance
    a hostile challenge
    Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
    Defiance gleamed in Casey’s eye, a sneer curled Casey’s lip.
  13. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
    And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
  14. visage
    the human face
    With a smile of Christian charity great Casey’s visage shone;
    He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
  15. tumult
    a state of commotion and noise and confusion
    With a smile of Christian charity great Casey’s visage shone;
    He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
Created on Wed Mar 04 10:21:34 EST 2026 (updated Wed Mar 04 13:39:18 EST 2026)

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