Halcyon Definition

hălsē-ən
adjective
Of the halcyon.
Webster's New World
Tranquil, happy, idyllic, etc.
Webster's New World
Prosperous; golden.
Halcyon years.
American Heritage
Calm and peaceful; tranquil.
American Heritage
Prosperous; golden.
Halcyon years.
American Heritage
noun
A legendary bird, identified with the kingfisher, which is supposed to have a peaceful, calming influence on the sea at the time of the winter solstice.
Webster's New World
Any of a genus (Halcyon) of kingfishers of S Asia and Australia.
Webster's New World
A fabled bird, identified with the kingfisher, that was supposed to have had the power to calm the wind and the waves while it nested on the sea during the winter solstice.
American Heritage
A kingfisher, especially one of the genus Halcyon.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
pronoun

A taxonomic genus within the family Alcedinidae — several tropical kingfishers.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Halcyon

Noun

Singular:
halcyon
Plural:
halcyons

Origin of Halcyon

  • Middle English alcioun mythical halcyon bird from Latin alcyōn, halcyōn from Greek halkuōn alteration (influenced by hals salt, sea) (and kuōn conceiving) of alkuōn probably from a pre-Greek Mediterranean language

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English alcioun mythical halcyon bird from Latin alcyōn, halcyōn from Greek halkuōn alteration (influenced by hals salt, sea) (and kuōn conceiving) of alkuōn probably from a pre-Greek Mediterranean language

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin halcyon (“kingfisher”), alcyon, from Ancient Greek ἀλκυών (alkuōn).

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin halcyon (“kingfisher”)

    From Wiktionary

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