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Contrite vs Maudlin - What's the difference?

contrite | maudlin |

In obsolete terms the difference between contrite and maudlin

is that contrite is thoroughly bruised or broken while maudlin is tearful, lachrymose.

As adjectives the difference between contrite and maudlin

is that contrite is sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions; apologetic while maudlin is affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness.

As nouns the difference between contrite and maudlin

is that contrite is a contrite person; a penitent while maudlin is the Magdalene; Mary Magdalene.

contrite

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions; apologetic.
  • * '>citation
  • * '>citation
  • (obsolete) Thoroughly bruised or broken.

    • Antonyms

    * attrite

    Synonyms

    * See also * apologetic

    Derived terms

    * contritely * contriteness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A contrite person; a penitent.
    • (Hooker)
    ----

    maudlin

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete, Christianity) The Magdalene; (Mary Magdalene).
  • * c. 1400 , (trans.), The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ :
    • for alle they wor?chipden hir ?ouereynly / as worthy was / but ?pecially Mawdelayne / that wolde neuere departe fro hir.
  • * 1653 , (Nicholas Culpeper), The English Physician Enlarged , Folio Society 2007, p. 186:
    • Common Maudlin have somewhat long and narrow leaves, snipped about the edges.
  • (obsolete) A Magdalene house; a brothel.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness.
  • *around 1900 , O. Henry,
    • He was a drunkard, and had not known it. What he had fondly imagined was a pleasant exhilaration had been maudlin intoxication.
  • Extravagantly or excessively sentimental; mawkish, self-pitying.
  • *1961 ,
    • ''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.
  • (obsolete) Tearful, lachrymose.

    • Anagrams

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