Magdalene

English

Etymology 1

Byname of the biblical Mary Magdalene, "Mary of Magdala", from the name of a village on Lake Galilee from Hebrew מגדל (migdál, “tower”).

Proper noun

Magdalene

1. A female given name.
2. Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus.

Quotations

• 1611, King James Version of the Bible (Authorized Version), Luke 8:1-2:

  And the twelve were with him; and certain woman which had been healed of evil spirits, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils;

Derived terms

• maudlin

Related terms

• Lena
• Maddy
• Maddie
• Magdalen
• Madeleine
• Madeline

Translations

female given name

• Czech: Magdaléna (cs) f
• Danish: Magdalene (da)
• Estonian: Madli (et)
• Finnish: Matleena (fi)
• French: Madeleine (fr)
• German: Magdalena (de)

• Greek: Μαγδαληνή (el) (Magdaliní)
• Hungarian: Magdolna (hu)
• Inuktitut: ᒫᒡᑕᓕᓐ (iu) (Maagtalin)
• Irish: Madailéin (ga)
• Italian: Maddalena (it)
• Norwegian: Magdalena (no)
• Portuguese: Madalena (pt)
• Spanish: Magdalena (es)
• Swedish: Magdalena (sv)

biblical character — see Mary Magdalene

Etymology 2

From the traditional assumption that Mary Magdalene was the "woman which was a sinner" mentioned in Luke 7:37.

Noun

Magdalene (plural Magdalenes)

1. A reformed prostitute.
   • 1906 John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga: The Man of Property: Interlude:

     "Trying to help women who've come to grief." Old Jolyon didn't quite understand. "To grief?" he repeated; then realised with a shock that she meant exactly what he would have meant himself if he had used that expression. Assisting the Magdalenes of London!

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Danish

Proper noun

Magdalene

1. A female given name of biblical origin.

Related terms

• Magda, Malene, Lena, Lene

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German

Proper noun

Magdalene

1. A female given name, a variant of Magdalena.