As Dr. Ink watched the anniversary coverage of 9/11, he was struck with the professional skill of journalists, especially broadcast journalists, for drawing such a firm line between the poignant and the maudlin. What we got, for the most part, were powerful stories. As careful reporters and producers demonstrated over and over again, a story that makes you cry need not be a sob story, and should not be.
That led the nerdy, wordy Doc to an exploration of the two words in his lead. What is the difference in meaning between ‘poignant’ and ‘maudlin’? The etymologies of these words tell most of the story. ‘Poignant’ is merely an Old French version of ‘pointed.’ As the meaning of the word stretched out over the century, it retained, at least synesthetically, its association with sharpness. Hence, a pain, an emotion, a smell, an argument can all be said to be ‘poignant.’
‘Maudlin’ is much more interesting. The word now means ‘excessively teary or sentimental.’ It turns out to be a name etymology, taken from iconic representations of Mary Magdalene, who is commonly pictured as crying and repentant. We can probably blame the sound change from Magdalene to Maudlin on the Brits. Magdalen College at Oxford is actually pronounced Maudlin.
Name etymologies always fascinate the Doc. The word ‘derrick,’ referring to a large hoisting mechanism, was originally a gallows created by a 17th century English hangman named Derick.
Our political redistricting word, ‘gerrymander,’ derives from the last name of Elbridge Gerry. As governor of Massachusetts in 1812, he created a political district that looked like the shape of a salamander. Gerry plus salamander gave us gerrymander. Ain’t words great?
