Unit 9 Vocabulary and Marc Chagall Biography

Vocabulary terms and historical facts based on the biographical sketch of Marc Chagall and Unit 9 definitions.

Marc Chagall

One of the most celebrated and prolific artists of the twentieth century (1887-1985), born Moishe Shagal in Vitebsk, Russia.

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accelerate

(v.) to speed up, cause to move faster; to bring about more quickly

bystander

(n.) one who looks on or observes, a person present but not taking part

canvass

(v.) to go through an area in order to procure votes, sales, or opinions; to go over in detail; to discuss

casual

(adj.) happening by chance or on an irregular basis; showing little concern; informal

downtrodden

(adj.) treated unfairly and cruelly, oppressed

entice

(v.) to attract, tempt

erode

(v.) to wear away gradually, eat away

flounder

(v.) to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way

graphic

(adj.) lifelike, vivid; relating to the pictorial arts

gruesome

(adj.) horrible, revolting, ghastly

melancholy

(adj.) sad, gloomy, unhappy; (n.) sadness, gloominess

ordeal

(n.) a difficult or painful experience, a trial

parch

(v.) to make dry and thirsty; to shrivel with heat

persist

(v.) to continue steadily in a course of action, refuse to stop or be changed; to last, remain

puny

(adj.) of less than normal strength or size; of no importance

quibble

(v.) to evade or belittle a point by twisting words or raising minor objections; (n.) a petty objection

ratify

(v.) to approve, give formal approval to, confirm

regal

(adj.) royal, kinglike; fit for a king

stifle

(v.) to smother, prevent from breathing; to hold back or choke off

vital

(adj.) having life, living; necessary to life, essential; key, crucial

Bella Rosenfeld

The regal, cultured woman who was Marc Chagall's fiancée and muse.

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Peace window

A famous stained-glass work created by Marc Chagall at the United Nations building in New York.