maudlin

maudlin
maudlin (adj.) c.1600, "tearful," from Middle English fem. proper name Maudelen (early 14c.), from Magdalene (O.Fr. Madelaine), woman's name, originally surname of Mary the repentant sinner forgiven by Jesus in Luke vii:37 (see MAGDALENE (Cf. Magdalene)). In paintings, she often was shown weeping as a sign of repentance. Meaning "characterized by tearful sentimentality" is recorded by 1630s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Maudlin — Maud lin, a. [From Maudlin, a contr. of Magdalen, OE. Maudeleyne, who is drawn by painters with eyes swelled and red with weeping.] 1. Tearful; easily moved to tears; exciting to tears; excessively sentimental; weak and silly. Maudlin eyes.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Maudlin — may refer to Excessively sentimental Maudlin, Cornwall Maudlin, Dorset Maudlin, West Sussex Magdalene College, Cambridge Magdalen College, Oxford This disambiguation page lists articles associat …   Wikipedia

  • maudlin — [môd′lin] adj. [after Maudlin, Magdalene < ME Maudeleyne < OFr Madeleine: Magdalene was often represented with eyes red from weeping] 1. foolishly and tearfully or weakly sentimental 2. tearfully sentimental from too much liquor …   English World dictionary

  • Maudlin — Maud lin, Maudeline Maude line, n. (Bot.) An aromatic composite herb, the costmary; also, the South European {Achillea Ageratum}, a kind of yarrow. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • maudlin — index demonstrative (expressive of emotion) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • maudlin — mawkish, *sentimental, romantic, soppy, mushy, slushy Analogous words: confused, muddled, fuddled, addled, befuddled (see CONFUSE): embarrassed, rattled, fazed, discomfited, disconcerted (see EMBARRASS) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • maudlin — [adj] teary, overemotional bathetic, befuddled, confused, cornball*, drippy*, gushing, insipid, lachrymose, mawkish, mushy*, romantic, schmaltzy*, sentimental, slush*, soap*, soapy*, soppy*, syrupy*, tearful, tearjerking*, weak, weepy; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • maudlin — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ self pityingly or tearfully sentimental. ORIGIN from the name of Mary Magdalen in the Bible, typically depicted weeping …   English terms dictionary

  • maudlin — [[t]mɔ͟ːdlɪn[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as maudlin, you mean that they are being sad and sentimental in a foolish way, perhaps because of drinking alcohol. Jimmy turned maudlin after three drinks. ...maudlin self pity. 2) ADJ… …   English dictionary

  • maudlin — maud|lin [ˈmo:dlın US ˈmo: ] adj [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Maudlin Mary Magdalen (14 16 centuries), from Old French Madeleine, from Latin Magdalena; because she was shown in pictures as crying] 1.) talking or behaving in a sad, silly, and… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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