Definitions for ugly duckling
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Random House Webster's College Dictionary
ug′ly duck′ling(n.)
an unattractive or unpromising child who becomes a beautiful or much-admired adult.
Origin of ugly duckling:
1880–85; after the bird in the story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen
Princeton's WordNet
ugly duckling(noun)
an ugly or unpromising child who grows into a beautiful or worthy person
Wiktionary
ugly duckling(Noun)
A young person who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful as they mature.
Origin: From a fairy tale of a duckling, considered ugly, that matures into a magnificent swan.
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