maudlinism

maud·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, Middle English MaudelenLate Latin Magdalēnē < Greek Magdalēnḗ Mary Magdalene, portrayed in art as a weeping penitent

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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Maudlinism is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Collins
World English Dictionary
maudlin (ˈmɔːdlɪn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
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

maudlin (ˈmɔːdlɪn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
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
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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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