noun
Magdalene
MAG-duh-leen
noun
1
A reformed prostitute (an older, now largely historical usage).
"The Victorian institution described itself as a refuge for "magdalenes" seeking a new life."
How to Use Magdalene
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old term for a reformed prostitute, drawn from the biblical figure Mary Magdalene.
When to use it
Archaic and now rarely used outside historical discussion; associated with the notorious Magdalene laundries/asylums.
Word Forms
Magdalenes plural
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Etymology
From Mary Magdalene, "Mary of Magdala," a town on the Sea of Galilee; the generic sense arose from her traditional (though disputed) identification with a repentant sinner in the Gospel of Luke.