halcyon

[ hal-see-uhn ]

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adjectiveAlso hal·cy·o·ni·an

[hal-see-oh-nee-uhn], /ˌhæl siˈoʊ ni ən/, hal·cy·on·ic

[hal-see-on-ik]. /ˌhæl siˈɒn ɪk/.

calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather.
happy; blissful; carefree: halcyon days of youth.

prosperous; wealthy: halcyon times of peace.
of or relating to the halcyon or kingfisher.

noun

a mythical bird, usually identified with the kingfisher, said to breed about the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea, and to have the power of charming winds and waves into calmness.
any of various kingfishers, especially of the genus Halcyon.

Halcyon, Classical Mythology. Alcyone (def. 2).

Origin of halcyon

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin, from Greek halkyṓn, pseudo-etymological variant of alkyṓn “kingfisher”; replacing Middle English alceon, alicion, from Latin alcyōn, from Greek

Other words for halcyon

1	pacific, placid, quiet, serene, still, unruffled; balmy, mild, pleasant, stormless, temperate, windless
2	contented, golden, joyful, joyous
3	booming, flourishing, palmy, roaring; rich, moneyed, well-off, well-to-do

See synonyms for halcyon on Thesaurus.com

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for halcyon

halcyon

/ (ˈhælsɪən) /

adjectivealso: halcyonian (ˌhælsɪˈəʊnɪən), halcyonic (ˌhælsɪˈɒnɪk)

peaceful, gentle, and calm
happy and carefree

noun

Greek myth a fabulous bird associated with the winter solstice
a poetic name for the kingfisher

halcyon days
- a fortnight of calm weather during the winter solstice
- a period of peace and happiness

Origin of halcyon

C14: from Latin alcyon, from Greek alkuōn kingfisher, of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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