Becoming Muhammad Ali: Rounds 4–6

by Kwame Alexander, James Patterson
This fictionalized biography, written in a combination of prose verse, imagines the early life of Cassius Clay, better known as Muhammad Ali.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Rounds 1–3, Rounds 4–6, Round 7–Final Round
25 words 244 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. noble
    having high or elevated character
    Cassius loved the horses—the way they looked, the way they moved, the proud and noble way they held their heads.
  2. stoop
    small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house
    ...everybody on the block
    went to Riney’s,
    sat on his lawn,
    and watched
    boxing fights
    on an old TV
    that his grandmomma
    set outside
    on her front stoop.
  3. mahogany
    a shade of brown with a tinge of red
    he was shining
    one of his customers’
    wing-tipped mahogany shoes
    at the horse track
  4. spar
    practice boxing or fighting
    I climb
    out of the blue-black truck
    ready to finish sparring
    till nightfall
  5. primer
    the first or preliminary coat of paint applied to a surface
    Lying under
    the tarp
    that covers
    our Christmas tree:
    his vinyl primer
    his lettering brushes
    his lettering enamel
  6. gallivant
    wander aimlessly in search of pleasure
    ...Daddy would stop
    gallivanting
    like he did
    most Friday nights
    till Saturday morning.
  7. monsoon
    heavy rain accompanied by wind
    So the three of us
    drop our bikes
    outside
    Columbia Auditorium,
    then dodge
    a million raindrops
    as we run up
    its fourteen stairs
    to escape
    the monsoon.
  8. lumber
    move heavily or clumsily
    Corky Butler didn’t
    so much walk
    as he did lumber
    in our direction,
    clearing his path
    like a grizzly bear
    on his hairy toes.
  9. dingy
    discolored by impurities; not bright and clear
    He was in
    a dingy, too-tight
    warm-up suit with
    tattered black Chuck Taylors
    covering his paws
  10. exquisite
    delicately beautiful
    Kid, you may be pretty
    but I’m exquisite,
    resplendent,
    an ivory knockout.
  11. resplendent
    having great beauty
    Kid, you may be pretty
    but I’m exquisite,
    resplendent,
    an ivory knockout.
  12. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
    See, I swear you can be so aloof.
  13. agile
    moving quickly and lightly
    How about agile?
    Huh?

    As in quick. You don't know, Cassius? I’m the fastest runner in our school.
  14. grimy
    thickly covered with ingrained dirt
    The grimy, white-brick walls
    were covered
    in Louis and Dempsey posters and
    large red signs
  15. culprit
    someone or something responsible for harm or wrongdoing
    You see the culprit? Any witnesses?
    No, sir. But I think I know who did it.
  16. southpaw
    a person who is left-handed
    You a southpaw? How's your jab? Show me an uppercut.
  17. flashy
    tastelessly showy
    I remember when his first big fight was coming up, he acted all tough and flashy around most people.
  18. simulate
    create a representation or model of
    So, I run
    fast and slow,
    alternating,
    simulating
    the rounds
    in a ring
  19. endurance
    the power to withstand hardship or stress
    to build up
    my endurance,
    keep my heart healthy,
    get my lungs
    and legs
    strong enough
  20. blaspheme
    speak of in an irreverent or impious manner
    Boy, don’t you dare blaspheme the Good Book.
  21. frantic
    excessively agitated; distraught with violent emotion
    The Olympics gave me quite the scare.
    Fought three rounds with a big ol’ bear.

    Came at me all wild and frantic
    with fists of fury from ’cross the Atlantic.
  22. regimen
    a systematic plan for therapy
    Regimen

    Shadowboxing and jogging on Mondays.
    Speed bags on Tuesdays.
    Weightlifting on Wednesdays and Fridays.
    Heavy bag on Thursdays.
    Jumping rope and sparring on Saturdays
  23. faze
    disturb the composure of
    Y’all don’t faze me.
    What about Ronnie O’Keefe, he faze you?
  24. debut
    present for the first time to the public
    so I have to settle
    for a split decision
    and a four-dollar prize

    in my debut fight.
    Cassius Clay: One win.
    Zero losses.
  25. demolish
    defeat soundly
    We walk through
    black Parkland,
    laughing
    and cutting up
    and telling everybody
    how I’m gonna demolish
    my next opponent
    on TV.
Created on Mon Nov 09 09:58:15 EST 2020 (updated Wed Dec 02 10:41:24 EST 2020)

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