"Father said, 'Your stepmother and I don't have enough food to feed you.'" What does STEPMOTHER mean in this sentence?

"Hansel tore the bread into crumbs and dropped them as he walked, marking their path as Father trudged deeper and deeper into the forest." What does TRUDGED mean in this sentence?

"He and his sister played marbles with the huge, sparkling gemstones." What are GEMSTONES?

"Gretel didn't see the cage door close, but she heard the click and saw a wicked smile flash across the old woman's face." What does WICKED mean in this sentence?

"In a sunny meadow sat a quaint cottage made entirely of sweets!" What does QUAINT mean in this sentence?

"'Get back to work!,' the woman snarled, her voice suddenly low and cruel." What does SNARLED mean in this sentence?

"Swooning with sugar, Hansel and Gretel happily followed the old woman inside." What does SWOONING mean in this sentence?

"When the children were finally full, the woman made up an enormous feather bed and drew a treasure chest from her shelf." What does TREASURE mean in this sentence?

"Hansel almost envied his sister, who was too young to remember happier times." What does ENVIED mean in this sentence?

"The woman seized his arm in her clawlike grasp." What does SEIZED mean in this sentence?

"Father furtively gave a small piece of bread to Hansel and said, 'Sshhh, here's our last piece of bread.'" What does FURTIVELY mean in this sentence?

"She brought out a dirty rag and rusty bucket, which looked loathsome against the pretty, sugared walls of the candy house." What does LOATHSOME mean int his sentence?