Difference between revisions of "Magdalen - Magdalene"
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| − | The [[saint]] called Mary, the friend of Jesus in the [[New Testament]], is distinguished from other [[Saint Mary]]s by the name of her home town, Magdala (in Galilee). | + | The [[saint]] called Mary, the friend of Jesus in the [[New Testament]], is distinguished from other [[Saint Mary]]s by the name of her home town, '''Magdala''' (in Galilee). St Mary '''Magdalene''']], sometimes known simply as '''the Magdalen'''. |
| + | **(The word '''M(/m)agdalen(e)''' can be seen written with or without a terminal '-e', '''Magdalen''' or '''Magdalene'''. The 2nd edition of [[OED]] gives it as '''magdalen(e)''', though the 3rd (on-line) seems to have settled on a preference for '''magdalen''', with the final silent '-e'. AWE's advice is to decide on one (the one with which you feel most comfortable), and then use it '''consistently'''.) | ||
| + | **In view of the history (or legend) of St Mary Magdalen(e), the word '''magdalen''' was used for many years as a [[common noun]] meaning 'reformed prostitute'. | ||
| + | ***In the 18th and 19th centuries, a common form of moral philanthropy was to provide hostels designed to take 'fallen women' (or sex workers) 'off the streets' (or away from their trade, which was held in horror: these were known as '''magdalen houses''', '''magdalen hospitals''' or .'''magdalen charities''', colloquially shortened to '''magdalens'''. | ||
| + | *In [[British English]], both spellings are pronounced the same: usually as 'MAG-der-lin', with the stress on the first [[syllable]], which rhymes with 'bag', {{{{IPA|ˈmæg dÉ™ lɪn ''or'' lÉ™n}}}}; some speakers emphasize the final syllable, 'mag-der-LEEN' ({{IPA|mæg dÉ™ ˈliËn}}), but this may be frowned on in some academic circles. It is NOT a phonetic representation of the second spelling. | ||
| + | **In the past, there was a different pronunciation, ‘MAUD-lin’, {{{{IPA|ˈmÉ”Ë dlɪn ''or'' É™n}}. This eventually became a separate word, maudlin, which has no religious meaning nowadays. It is an adjective meaning ‘characterised by tearful sentimentality’ ([[OED]]). It has come to mean this because [[Saint Mary Magdalene]] was believed to have been a repentant prostitute, and is often shown in pictures as weeping. Maudlin was first a pronunciation of her name, then used to mean ‘tearful’, and finally merely sentimental. (The stage of maudlin drunken-ness is that in which the drinker weeps.) The two [[college]]s, one (with no terminal '-e') at [[Oxford University]], the other at Cambridge, are both pronounced like 'maudlin - see also: [[Magdalen - Magdalene College]]. | ||
| − | + | ::'''Madeline''' or '''Madeleine''' (the French form) are current female [[forename]]s derived from Magdalen(e), along with Madelaine, Madelene, Madeline, Mad(e)lyn, Madalene, Madaline, Madoline, their [[petname]]s Maddie and Maddy and a German version Magda. | |
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| + | [[category:names]] | ||
[[Category:Culture]] | [[Category:Culture]] | ||
[[Category:Pronunciation]] | [[Category:Pronunciation]] | ||
[[Category:Academic culture]] | [[Category:Academic culture]] | ||
[[category:saints]] | [[category:saints]] | ||
| + | [[category:clarification of meanings]] | ||
| + | [[category:etymology]] | ||
Revision as of 18:03, 8 August 2010
The saint called Mary, the friend of Jesus in the New Testament, is distinguished from other Saint Marys by the name of her home town, Magdala (in Galilee). St Mary Magdalene]], sometimes known simply as the Magdalen.
- (The word M(/m)agdalen(e) can be seen written with or without a terminal '-e', Magdalen or Magdalene. The 2nd edition of OED gives it as magdalen(e), though the 3rd (on-line) seems to have settled on a preference for magdalen, with the final silent '-e'. AWE's advice is to decide on one (the one with which you feel most comfortable), and then use it consistently.)
- In view of the history (or legend) of St Mary Magdalen(e), the word magdalen was used for many years as a common noun meaning 'reformed prostitute'.
- In the 18th and 19th centuries, a common form of moral philanthropy was to provide hostels designed to take 'fallen women' (or sex workers) 'off the streets' (or away from their trade, which was held in horror: these were known as magdalen houses, magdalen hospitals or .magdalen charities, colloquially shortened to magdalens.
- In British English, both spellings are pronounced the same: usually as 'MAG-der-lin', with the stress on the first syllable, which rhymes with 'bag', {ˈmæg dÉ™ lɪn or lÉ™n}; some speakers emphasize the final syllable, 'mag-der-LEEN' (IPA: /mæg dÉ™ ˈliËn/), but this may be frowned on in some academic circles. It is NOT a phonetic representation of the second spelling.
- In the past, there was a different pronunciation, ‘MAUD-lin’, {{IPA: /ˈmÉ”Ë dlɪn or É™n/. This eventually became a separate word, maudlin, which has no religious meaning nowadays. It is an adjective meaning ‘characterised by tearful sentimentality’ (OED). It has come to mean this because Saint Mary Magdalene was believed to have been a repentant prostitute, and is often shown in pictures as weeping. Maudlin was first a pronunciation of her name, then used to mean ‘tearful’, and finally merely sentimental. (The stage of maudlin drunken-ness is that in which the drinker weeps.) The two colleges, one (with no terminal '-e') at Oxford University, the other at Cambridge, are both pronounced like 'maudlin - see also: Magdalen - Magdalene College.
