magdalen

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: mag=da=len

CIDE DICTIONARY

magdalen, n. [From Mary Magdalene, traditionally reported to have been the repentant sinner forgiven by Christ. See Luke vii. 36.].

 A reformed prostitute.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

magdalen, n.
1 a reformed prostitute.
2 a home for reformed prostitutes.

Etymology

Mary Magdalene of Magdala in Galilee (Luke 8:2), identified (prob. wrongly) with the sinner of Luke 7:37: f. eccl.L Magdalena f. Gk Magdalene

ROGET THESAURUS

magdalen

Penitence

N penitence, contrition, compunction, repentance, remorse, regret, self-reproach, self-reproof, self-accusation, self-condemnation, self-humiliation, stings of conscience, pangs of conscience, qualms of conscience, prickings of conscience, twinge of conscience, twitch of conscience, touch of conscience, voice of conscience, compunctious visitings of nature, acknowledgment, confession, apology, recantation, penance, resipiscence, awakened conscience, deathbed repentance, locus paenitentiae, stool of repentance, cuttystool, penitent, repentant, Magdalen, prodigal son, a sadder and a wiser man, penitent, repenting, repentant, contrite, conscience- smitten, conscience-stricken, self-accusing, self-convicted, penitential, penitentiary, reclaimed, reborn, not hardened, unhardened, mea culpa, peccavi, erubuit, salva res est, Tu l'as voulu, Georges Dandin, and wet his grave with my repentant tears.