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Synonyms
maudlin
- 5 dictionary resultsmaud⋅lin
[mawd-lin] 
–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
1500–10; special use of Maudlin, ME Maudelen ≪ LL Magdalēnē < Gk Magdalēn
Mary Magdalene, portrayed in art as a weeping penitentRelated 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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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To maudlin
| 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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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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." --Dryden. "Maudlin eloquence." --Roscommon. "A maudlin poetess." --Pope. "Maudlin crowd." --Southey. 2. Drunk, or somewhat drunk; fuddled; given to drunkenness. Maudlin Clarence in his malmsey butt. --Byron.Maudlin
Maud"lin\, Maudeline \Maude"line\, n. (Bot.) An aromatic composite herb, the costmary; also, the South European Achillea Ageratum, a kind of yarrow.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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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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