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maudlin

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maudlin¹

  • /ˈmɔːd.lɪn/ UK
  • /ˈmɔːd.lɪn/ US
  • /ˈmɑːd.lɪn/ cot caught merger

Where it comes from

From Middle English Maudelen, a dialectal form of Mary Magdalene (typically depicted weeping), from Old French Madelaine (whence Madeleine), from Late Latin Magdalena (see Magdalena, Magdalene, and Maudlin).

noun maudlins

  1. obsolete The Magdalene; Mary Magdalene. for alle they worſchipden hir ſouereynly / as worthy was / but ſpecially Mawdelayne / that wolde neuere departe fro hir.
  2. historical Either of two aromatic plants, costmary or sweet yarrow. Common Maudlin have somewhat long and narrow leaves, snipped about the edges.
  3. obsolete A Magdalene house; a brothel.

adjective more maudlin · most maudlin

  1. Affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness. Why, man, you couldn't stand—you made everybody laugh in the Gardens, though you were crying yourself. You were maudlin, Jos. Don't you remember singing a song?

    Similar: mushy, sappy, schmaltzy, drippy, soupy, slushy, Adrian Quist, adrip, aled up, all mops and brooms, arseholed, a sheet in the wind

  2. Extravagantly or excessively sentimental; mawkish, self-pitying. To cap it all I had written a letter to Mara saying that we had to find a way out soon or I would commit suicide. It must have been a maudlin letter because when she telephoned me she said it was imperative to see me immediately.

    Similar: emotional, overwrought, soppy, larmoyant, mournful, plaintful, teary, weepy, bathetic, cheesy, squishy, corny

  3. obsolete Tearful, lachrymose.

    Similar: cryey, larmoyant, weepy, crysome, lachrymate, lachrymose, maudlin, moist, sobful, tearful, teary, watery

Maudlin²

Where it comes from

English surname, from Middle English Maudeleyn. Doublet of Madeleine, Magdalen, Magdalena, and Magdalene.

proper noun Maudlins · Maudling · Maulding

  1. A surname originating as a matronymic.
  2. alternative Alternative form of Magdalen (“Magdalen College, Oxford”). At the same school we met a young man of small fortune, and in a subordinate situation at Maudlin.

Translations

Every language

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

Españolsensiblero, llorón, llorica
日本語感傷的な kanshō-tekina
Françaislarmoyant, démonstratif, hystérique, pleurnicheur
Deutschlarmoyant, verheult
Italianopiagnucoloso, sdolcinato
Русскийслезливый slezlivyj

adj extravagantly or excessively sentimental; self-pitying

Españollloraduelos, llorón, llorica, lamentoso
日本語泣き上戸の naki jōgo no
Portuguêsmelindroso
Françaishistrionique, sentimental, pleurnicheur, maniéré, mièvre, affecté
Deutschrührselig, selbstmitleidig
Русскийсентиментальный sentimentalʹnyj, расчувствовавшийся rasčuvstvovavšijsja

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MLA

"maudlin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/maudlin. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

maudlin. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/maudlin

Chicago

"maudlin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/maudlin.

BibTeX
@misc{maudlin_2026,
  title = {maudlin},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/maudlin},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}