Vocabulary for
The Story of the Nutcracker
with Sniffy the Hamster, resident wordsmith
Printable Version (opens in new window).
Sniffy Says: "Fortress. Hmmmmm. Definitely a noun. Fort, fortification, fortified—are all related to fortress. Think big. A fortress is bigger than a fort and much bigger than my foot. Most things are bigger than my foot. A fortress is a safe place, a fortified place—that means it is protected in some way either by an army, high walls, cannons or my great-great-great-grandfather Milbertrimble who built a fortress to protect his collection of hamster hammocks—I think he was asleep when the rats stole everything."
Sniffy Says: "Merry Christmas!! Oh, it's not Christmas? Well, I wish it was because then we could throw the yule log on the fire. They used to call the "yule log" the "yule clog." Know what that is? It's a log, not a dog, you burn on Christmas eve—it's supposed to be a special log—kind of like how a birthday cake is a special cake. I like all cakes special or not. Yuletide is the Christmas season. It's Christmastime and Christmastide. It's when everything is Christmassy with Christmas lights and Christmas holly, Christmas trees and Christmas pies. I like to hide in Christmas stockings way down at the bottom and on Christmas morning I give a little nip, nip to anyone who reaches in. You should see them jumpity, jump, jump! Merry Yuletide!"
Sniffy Says: "I wish you could see me. I just built myself a throne out of a tiny cardboard box and right now I'm sitting on my throne holding a long toothpick. I stuck a green olive on the top of the toothpick—don't worry, I don't like green olives so I won't eat it—and this toothpick is now my scepter and I need a scepter because it shows that I am now the king of my domain, the royal and imperial authority of my cage. I am the sovereign—basically—I'm in charge. When people or cockroaches or flies or fleas see this scepter they will know that I demand respect in my kingdom and they'll obey me. Ouchy wow-wow!!! I think a flea just bit me! Ouch!! Another one! Ouch, ouch! Hmmmm. Maybe I need a crown too."
On-Line Dictionaries
The Free Dictionary: This is now my favorite on-line dictionary (the box above links to this dictionary). Not only does it provide you with audios to pronounce the word, but it also gives you examples of the word used in context. They also have a "References in classic literature" section which provides entire sentences from classic literature in which the word is used. Also includes a thesaurus, encyclopedia and more.
Answers.com: This is not just a dictionary, but it has a dictionary and the reason I list it is because the dictionary has an audio pronunciation feature which is very helpful when one comes across words that are difficult to pronounce or have never been seen before. Access is free.
The Dictionary of Difficult Words: Good resource for those words that your dictionary doesn't have or that other on-line dictionaries do not have.
A Latin Dictionary: This is great resource for Latin. There is even a downloadable version for your computer that will do both Latin/English and English/Latin.
Dictionary.com Free Access. You can purchase additional features.
Merriam-Webster Free Access.
WordSmyth A children's dictionary is also available. This dictionary requires registration. Free Access.
Oxford English Dictionary The best English dictionary in the world! This dictionary requires paid subscription. $29.95 per month or $295.00 per year.
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