different between maudlin vs emotional

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?m??d.l?n/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m?d.l?n/
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /?m?d.l?n/

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:

2. (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:

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

Adjective

maudlin (comparative more maudlin, superlative most maudlin)

1. Affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness. [from 17th c.]
   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 6:

   • around 1900, O. Henry, The Rubaiyat of a Scotch Highball

2. Extravagantly or excessively sentimental; mawkish, self-pitying. [from 17th c.]
   • 1961, CS Lewis, A Grief Observed

3. (obsolete) Tearful, lachrymose. [17th-19th c.]

Synonyms

• (affectionately sentimental): mushy, sappy, schmaltzy, soupy, slushy
  • (drunk): See Thesaurus:drunk
• (excessively sentimental): emotional, overwrought, soppy
• (tearful): larmoyant, mournful, plaintful, teary, weepy; see also Thesaurus:sad

Translations

Anagrams

• Mauldin, indlamu

English

Etymology

emotion +? -al

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??m????n?l/, /??m???n?l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??mo???n?l/, /??mo??n?l/, /i?mo???n?l/
• Rhymes: -????n?l

Adjective

emotional (comparative more emotional, superlative most emotional)

1. Of or relating to the emotions.

   emotional crisis

   emotional lift

2. Characterised by emotion.
3. Determined by emotion rather than reason.

   emotional decision

4. Appealing to or arousing emotion.

   emotional speech

5. Easily affected by emotion.

   She’s an emotional person.

6. Readily displaying emotion.

   emotional greeting

Synonyms

• demonstrative
• effusive
• sentimental
• temperamental

Derived terms

Translations

German

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -a?l

Adjective

emotional (comparative emotionaler, superlative am emotionalsten)

1. emotional

Declension

Related terms

• Emotion

Further reading

• “emotional” in Duden online