Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
Cinderella [sin-duh-rel-uh] EXAMPLES| noun a heroine of a fairy tale or folk tale who is maltreated by a malevolent stepmother but achieves happiness and marries a prince through the benevolent intervention of a fairy godmother. (italics) the tale itself, the earliest version of which is in Chinese and dates from the 9th century a.d. (italics) a ballet (1945) with musical score by Sergei Prokofiev. a person or thing of merit, undeservedly neglected or forced into a wretched or obscure existence. a person who achieves unexpected or sudden success or recognition, especially after obscurity, neglect, or misery. Liberaldictionary.com
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for cinderella Contemporary Examples of cinderella
It was a Cinderella story, being discovered at a sporting event.
World Cup Fan Axelle Despiegelaere Already Dropped From L’Oreal; Forever 21 Fired Chrissy Teigan For Being “Fat”
The Fashion Beast Team
July 11, 2014
The characters were more like Snow White, or Cinderella, or the Power Puff Girls, and I had to wear a big head with a chinstrap.
Alison Brie on ‘Community’s’ New Beginning, Dan Harmon’s Return, Nicolas Cage, and More
Marlow Stern
January 3, 2014
Everyone loves a Cinderella story, and Orange Is the New Black has a prison full of them.
Danielle Brooks, Taystee on ‘Orange Is the New Black,’ Is the Breakout Star of the Year
Kevin Fallon
December 11, 2013
In Western schools, students are encouraged to speak their minds after reading stories like “Cinderella.”
China’s Schools Teaches Kids to Take Tests, Obey the State, and Not Much More
Junheng Li
November 30, 2013
The Master of Ceremonies for the affair was dressed as the Royal Footman from Cinderella, Major Domo.
The Most Ridiculous Parts of Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s Vow Renewal
Kevin Fallon
May 1, 2013
Historical Examples of cinderella
And if she’s Cinderella, can’t we have a peep at the fairy godmother?
Harriet Stark
Have you ever seen a picture of Cinderella’s fairy godmother?
Laura E. Richards
Peter had opened the garden gate, and Cinderella was walking into the garden.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17)
Various
Cinderella brought the trap to her and in it there were three huge rats.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17)
Various
“There’s no character hin all the world as I hadmires like Cinderella,” said Sue.
L. T. Meade
British Dictionary definitions for cinderella Cinderella noun a girl who achieves fame after being obscure
- a poor, neglected, or unsuccessful person or thing
- (as modifier)a Cinderella service within the NHS
(modifier) relating to dramatic successa Cinderella story Word Origin for Cinderella C19: after Cinderella, the heroine of a fairy tale who is aided by a fairy godmother Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for cinderella Cinderella n.
pseudo-translation of French Cendrillon, from cendre “ashes” (see cinder). Used figuratively for something unappreciated or something that ends at midnight. A widespread Eurasian folk tale, the oldest known version is Chinese (c.850 C.E.); the English version is based on Perrault’s “Cendrillon” (1697), translated from French 1729 by Robert Sambler, but native versions probably existed (e.g. Scottish “Rashin Coatie”). The German form is Aschenbrödel, literally “scullion,” from asche “ash” (see ash (n.1)) + brodeln “bubble up, to brew.”
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper cinderella in Culture “Cinderella”
A fairy tale from the collection of Charles Perrault. Cinderella, a young girl, is forced by her stepmother and stepsisters to do heavy housework and relaxes by sitting among the cinders by the fireplace. One evening, when the prince of the kingdom is holding a ball, Cinderella’s fairy godmother visits her, magically dresses her for the ball, turns a pumpkin into a magnificent carriage for her, warns her not to stay past midnight, and sends her off. Cinderella captivates the prince at the ball but leaves just as midnight is striking, and in her haste she drops a slipper; as the story is usually told in English, the slipper is made of glass. She returns home with her fine clothes turned back into rags and her carriage a pumpkin again. The prince searches throughout the kingdom for the owner of the slipper. Cinderella is the only one whom it fits, and the prince marries her.
Note The name Cinderella is sometimes applied to a person or group that undergoes a sudden transformation, such as an athletic team that loses frequently and then starts to win steadily. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
