maudlin
/ˈmɔːd.lɪn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.39 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Either of two aromatic plants, costmary or sweet yarrow.
adj
Affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness.
adj
Extravagantly or excessively sentimental; mawkish, self-pitying.
name
A surname originating as a matronymic.
Example Sentences
- "for alle they worſchipden hir ſouereynly / as worthy was / but ſpecially Mawdelayne / that wolde neuere departe fro hir."
- "Common Maudlin have somewhat long and narrow leaves, snipped about the edges."
- "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?"
- "With the help of a sleepy waiter, Little Billee got the bacchanalian into his room and lit his candle for him, and, disengaging himself from his maudlin embraces, left him to wallow in solitude."
- "He was a drunkard, and had not known it. What he had fondly imagined was a pleasant exhilaration had been maudlin intoxication."
- "...you are my devoted friend too. You do more and work harder and oh shit I'd get maudlin about how damned swell you are. My god I'd like to see you... You're a hell of a good guy."
Etymology
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).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmɔːd.lɪn/
- British English: /ˈmɔːd.lɪn/
Usage
Inflected Forms
maudlins (plural)
more maudlin (comparative)
most maudlin (superlative)
Maudling (alternative)
Maulding (alternative)