maudlin
Use Maudlin in a sentence
lɪn 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, Middle English Maudelen ≪ Late Latin Magdalēnē < Greek Magdalēnḗ Mary Magdalene, portrayed in art as a weeping penitent
1500–10; special use of Maudlin, Middle English Maudelen ≪ Late Latin Magdalēnē < Greek Magdalēnḗ Mary Magdalene, portrayed in art as a weeping penitent
Related forms
maud·lin·ism, noun
maud·lin·ly, adverb
maud·lin·ness, noun
un·maud·lin, adjective
un·maud·lin·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To maudlin
00:10
Maudlin
is an SAT word you need to know.
So is surfeit. Does it mean:
| of, pertaining to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life. |
| excess; an excessive amount: |
Collins
World English Dictionary
maudlin (ˈmɔːdlɪn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| foolishly tearful or sentimental, as when drunk | |
| [C17: from Middle English Maudelen Mary Magdalene, typically portrayed as a tearful penitent] | |
| 'maudlinism | |
| —n | |
| 'maudlinly | |
| —adv | |
| 'maudlinness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
But your stories, despite these themes, are never maudlin.
This new biography of Dickens waddles along like a maudlin elephant that has attached itself to us against our will.
Where it should be tender and simple it is maudlin and over-dressed.
This is not a man given to making himself the center of a maudlin or glorious saga.
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