maudlin

WOTD - 6 December 2009    

English

Etymology

Middle English form of Mary Magdalene (typically depicted weeping), ultimately from Late Latin Magdalena.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈmɔːd.lɪn/
• (US) IPA: /ˈmɑd.lɪn/, /ˈmɔd.lɪn/

Noun

maudlin (plural maudlins)

1. (obsolete, Christianity) The Magdalene; Mary Magdalene. [14th-16th c.]
   • c. 1400, Nicholas Love (trans.), The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ:

     for alle they worſchipden hir ſouereynly / as worthy was / but ſpecially Mawdelayne / that wolde neuere departe fro hir.

2. (botany, now historical) Either of two aromatic plants, costmary or sweet yarrow. [from 15th c.]
   • 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society 2007, p. 186:

     Common Maudlin have somewhat long and narrow leaves, snipped about the edges.

3. (obsolete) A Magdalene house; a brothel. [17th c.]

Adjective

maudlin (comparative more maudlin, superlative most maudlin)

1. (obsolete) Tearful, lachrymose. [17th-19th c.]
2. Affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness. [from 17th c.]
3. Extravagantly or excessively sentimental; mawkish, self-pitying. [from 17th c.]

   On the rebound one passes into tears and pathos. Maudlin tears. I almost prefer the moments of agony. These are at least clean and honest. But the bath of self-pity, the wallow, the loathsome sticky-sweet pleasure of indulging it — that disgusts me.

   CS Lewis, A Grief Observed, 1961

Translations

extravagantly or excessively sentimental; self-pitying

Armenian: դյուրազգաց (hy) (dyurazgac’) French: histrionique (fr), sentimental (fr) m., pleurnicheur (fr), maniéré (fr), mièvre (fr), affecté (fr) Russian: сентиментальный (ru), расчувствовавшийся (ru)

Spanish: lloraduelos (es), amanerado (es), melindroso (es), remilgado (es) Swedish: gråtmild (sv), blödig (sv), sentimental (sv)

affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner

French: larmoyant (fr) m., démonstratif (fr) m., hystérique (fr), pleurnicheur (fr) Italian: piagnucoloso (it) m., sdolcinato (it) m. Russian: напившийся до состояния слезливого раскаяния (ru), слезливый (ru)

Spanish: llorón (es) f., llorica (es) Swedish: blödig (sv), gråtmild (sv)

Anagrams

• indlamu