mater dolorosa

American  

[mah-ter doh-loh-roh-sah, mey-ter doh-luh-roh-suh] / ˈmɑ tɛr ˌdoʊ loʊˈroʊ sɑ, ˈmeɪ tər ˌdoʊ ləˈroʊ sə /

noun

Latin.

1. the sorrowful mother.

2. (initial capital letters) the mother of Christ sorrowing for her son.

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mater dolorosa British  

/ ˈmɑːtə ˌdɒləˈrəʊsə /

noun

1. the Virgin Mary sorrowing for the dead Christ, esp as depicted in art

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Etymology

Origin of mater dolorosa

Latin: sorrowful mother

Example Sentences

Warhol’s Jackie is a ravaged yet noble figure of mourning, a mater dolorosa for the nation, conveying in her composed agony the loss of JFK to an assassin’s bullet.

From The Guardian • Nov. 11, 2016

Alone, burnt-eyed, she raises an arm as she watches the Greek fleet under full sail, a Botticelli Venus transformed into the mater dolorosa.

From Time Magazine Archive

The mother, or Grey Lady, is the mater dolorosa, a woman of sorrowing countenance, possibly the mother of Christ; her huge supplicating hands resemble those of a piet�.

From Time Magazine Archive

Many saw her as a veritable mater dolorosa.

From Time Magazine Archive

Good old Bohemia—alma mater dolorosa; stern old gray she‑wolf with the dry teats—marâtre au cœur de pierre!

From The Martian by Du Maurier, George