The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

Mary Magdalene See magdalen; maudlin.
Mary Poppins (popinz) A children’s nanny, or a
woman who seems particularly gifted at domestic
and other chores. Mary Poppins, a likable nanny
with a magical touch, was introduced to the world
in the stories of P. L. Travers (1899–1996), making
her fi rst appearance in 1934. She was later
brought to life on the cinema screen by Julie
Andrews in the musical Mary Poppins (1964). Her
house is so tidy she must be Mary Poppins.
Mason, Perry See perry mason.
massacre of the innocents A complete rout or
comprehensive annihilation of a defenseless
enemy. <strong>The</strong> phrase refers to the systematic killing
of all male children two years old and younger
that according to Matthew 2:1–16 took place in
Bethlehem on the orders of Herod the Great in an
attempt to stop the prophecy from coming true
that one of these boys was destined to become
king of the Jews. In modern usage the phrase is
not limited to acts of murderous slaughter but
may also be applied to any seemingly merciless
action against innocent or defenseless parties.
“Herod reigns in France, and over all the earth,
and begins each year his massacre of the innocents;
and if it be not blasphemy against the sacredness
of life, I say that the most happy are those who
have disappeared” (Upton Sinclair, Damaged Goods,
1913).
Mata Hari (mahtb hahree) A beautiful female
spy. Mata Hari was the stage name of the Dutch
dancer Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (1876–1917),
whose notorious career ended with her being shot
by a French fi ring squad on charges of spying for
the Germans during World War I. Her pseudonym
came from a Malay name for the sun, and meant
“eye of the day.” She seemed so innocent that no one
thought she could possibly turn out to be a Mata Hari.
Mather, Cotton See cotton mather.
Maundy Thursday
Matilda (mbtildb) A congenital liar. This is an
allusion to one of the Cautionary Tales (1907) of
Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953). <strong>The</strong> story concerns a
small girl called Matilda who is in the habit of
playing the practical joke of shouting “Fire!”, only
to be disbelieved (and consequently burned to
death) when a real fi re breaks out. His daughter was
a Matilda whose every other sentence was a blatant
untruth.
maudlin Foolishly tearful, sentimental, or rambling.
<strong>The</strong> word comes from the name of Mary
Magdalene (or Magdalen), conventionally depicted
in art as weeping. (See magdalen.) “I hurried back
to that door and glanced in. Alas, there was small
room for hope—Backus’s eyes were heavy and
bloodshot, his sweaty face was crimson, his speech
maudlin and thick, his body sawed drunkenly
about with the weaving motion of the ship” (Mark
Twain, Life on the Mississippi, 1883).
Maundy Thursday (mahndee) <strong>The</strong> Thursday
before Easter, commemorating the Last Supper.
Maundy comes from the Old French mandé (meaning
“commanded”), a translation of the Latin
mandatum (“commandment”), which appears in a
quotation of Christ’s: “Mandatum novum do
vobis,” meaning “A new commandment I give unto
you” (John 13:34). <strong>The</strong> commandment in question
is “That ye love one another; as I have loved you.”
<strong>The</strong> day is marked by special ser vices, and in Britain
the monarch presents specially minted coins
called Maundy money to a small number of
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