magdalen /ˈmaɡdəlɪn 
/ ▸ noun 1 (the Magdalen or the Magdalene) St Mary Magdalene. 2 archaic a reformed prostitute. ▪ a home for reformed prostitutes.
– ORIGIN late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek ( Maria hē) Magdalēnē ‘(Mary of) Magdala’ (to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection; John 20:1–18), formerly identified with the sinner of Luke 7:37.
EnglishOxford Dictionary of English
