takipsilim

Opened the dictionary, looking for a new word to learn today. Then I saw that page 331, the new oxford english dictionary has an entry for "Cinderella".

http://www.folkstory.com/images/arthur_rackham_cinderella.jpg

ok, of course we know who cinderella is. origin of the word, from cinder + the dimunitive suffix -ella, on the pattern of French Cendrillon, from cendre ‘cinders’

Of course we also know that she was named Cinderella because she would be dirty from the ashes from the cinders. Right?

But then think of this: cinder - " a small piece of partly burnt coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames but still has combustible matter in it."

And isn’t that what Cinderella was? A young girl hidden away enslaved, oppressed .. but with a fire in her that would burn brightly. 

There’s always more to a name than you think. And there’s more to a dictionary than just definitions.

Funny though, while most would think it was the Prince that made her beauty shine through, hindi kaya. Fairy godmother, no?

I really should teach the fairy tale