[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/cinderella/)

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# cinderella

proper noun (Cinderella — a story character); noun (a Cinderella — something or someone ignored, figurative)

«cinderella» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Cinderella is the girl in a famous fairy tale who is treated badly by her stepmother and stepsisters, goes to the prince's ball with help from her fairy godmother, loses a glass slipper and marries the prince. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#m1)
2. (figurative) A Cinderella is a person or thing that is ignored or treated as less important but deserves more attention. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#m2)
3. (sport) A Cinderella story is when a small, unexpected team or person does very well. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#m3)

### In the lessons

In English lessons Cinderella is a classic fairy tale told in many countries (versions by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, and very old ones from China and Egypt). At Christmas it is a favourite UK pantomime. Figuratively, news writers say a subject is «the Cinderella of the school curriculum». Phrases: Cinderella story, be home by midnight like Cinderella.

### Examples

- Cinderella's fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a coach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x1)
- At midnight Cinderella ran away and lost her glass slipper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x2)
- We saw Cinderella as a pantomime at Christmas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x3)
- The little village team had a Cinderella run to the final. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x4)
- Music is often the Cinderella subject at some schools. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x5)
- «Be home by midnight, Cinderella!» joked Dad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x6)
- There are hundreds of versions of the Cinderella story around the world. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x7)
- “Y--es,” cried Cinderella, with a great sigh. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/#x8)

### Note

Capital C for the character. The name means «little cinder girl», because she slept in the ashes by the fire. Not used in maths.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «cinderella» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cinderella/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«cinderella» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cinderella.html) on Mova free.