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maudlin

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maud⋅lin

  [mawd-lin]
Use maudlin in a Sentence
–adjective
1. tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental: a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog.
2. foolishly or mawkishly sentimental because of drunkenness.
Origin:
1500–10; special use of Maudlin, ME Maudelen ≪ LL Magdalēnē < Gk Magdalēn Mary Magdalene, portrayed in art as a weeping penitent

Related forms:
maud⋅lin⋅ism, noun
maud⋅lin⋅ly, adverb
maud⋅lin⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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maud·lin   (môd'lĭn)   
adj.  Effusively or tearfully sentimental: "displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals" (Aldous Huxley). See Synonyms at sentimental.

[Alteration of (Mary) Magdalene, who was frequently depicted as a tearful penitent.]
maud'lin·ly adv., maud'lin·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

maudlin 
1607, "tearful," from M.E. proper name Maudelen (c.1320), from Magdalene (O.Fr. Madelaine), woman's name, originally surname of Mary, the repentant sinner forgiven by Jesus in Luke vii.37 (see Magdalene). In paintings, she was often shown weeping as a sign of repentance. Meaning "characterized by tearful sentimentality" is recorded from c.1631.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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