Mary Magdalen
- proper noun
:
María Magdalena
- The story of Mary Magdalen highlights her transformation from possession to becoming a key follower of Jesus.
Examples
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In the Bible, Mary Magdalen is depicted as a devoted follower of Jesus.
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Religious scholars have debated the role and reputation of Mary Magdalen for centuries.
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Many paintings throughout history depict Mary Magdalen at the foot of the cross.
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The story of Mary Magdalen is often referenced in discussions of forgiveness and redemption.
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Did Mary Magdalen witness the resurrection of Jesus?
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In many religious texts, Mary Magdalen is recognized as a prominent figure who played a crucial role in Jesus' ministry.
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Scholars often explore the life of Mary Magdalen to understand her impact on early Christian teachings.
Synonyms
1
5.6
A woman in the New Testament who Jesus heals and who follows him closely
A woman who follows Jesus, is healed by him and sees his death and return to life
A woman who followed Jesus and is shown as sorry for her sins
Surface Forms
Morphology
Mary + magdalen
This is a fixed proper name referring to a specific biblical person whose identity and cultural/religious associations cannot be composed from the parts. Knowing 'Mary' (a personal name) and an ordinary sense of 'magdalen' will not allow a B1 learner to infer the referent or biographical meaning, and the constituent gloss could even mislead. Therefore the expression is idiomatic/proper and not transparently derived from its words.
Etymology
Mary Magdalen comes from a woman in the New Testament who was healed by Jesus and became one of his followers. Because she stood at the foot of the cross and was the first to see Jesus alive again, Mary Magdalen is often used to mean 'forgiveness' and 'faithful witness'.