Definitions for halcyonˈhæl si ən

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Random House Webster's College Dictionary

hal•cy•onˈhæl si ən(adj.)

  1. calm; peaceful; tranquil:

    halcyon weather.

  2. prosperous:

    halcyon years.

  3. happy; joyful; carefree:

    halcyon days of youth.

  4. of or pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.

  5. (n.)a bird of classical legend, identified with the kingfisher, that was said to magically calm the waves when it nested on the surface of the sea.

    Category: Mythology

  6. any of various kingfishers, esp. of the genus

    Halcyon.

    Category: Ornithology

Origin of halcyon:

1350–1400; ME alceon, alicion < L (h)alcyōn < Gk halkyṓn

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Alcyone, Halcyon(noun)

    (Greek mythology) a woman who was turned into a kingfisher

  2. Halcyon, genus Halcyon(noun)

    a large kingfisher widely distributed in warmer parts of the Old World

  3. halcyon(adj)

    a mythical bird said to breed at the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea and to have the power of calming the winds and waves

  4. halcyon(adj)

    idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity

    "a halcyon atmosphere"

  5. golden, halcyon, prosperous(adj)

    marked by peace and prosperity

    "a golden era"; "the halcyon days of the clipper trade"

Wiktionary

  1. halcyon(Noun)

    In classical legends, a bird said to nest on the sea, thereby calming the waters; later usually identified with a type of kingfisher, hence a kingfisher.

  2. halcyon(Noun)

    A tropical kingfisher of the genus Halcyon, such as the sacred kingfisher Halcyon sancta of Australia.

  3. halcyon(Adjective)

    Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher

  4. halcyon(Adjective)

    Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.

  5. Origin: From halcyon, alcyon, from ἀλκυών.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Halcyon(noun)

    a kingfisher. By modern ornithologists restricted to a genus including a limited number of species having omnivorous habits, as the sacred kingfisher (Halcyon sancta) of Australia

  2. Halcyon(adj)

    pertaining to, or resembling, the halcyon, which was anciently said to lay her eggs in nests on or near the sea during the calm weather about the winter solstice

  3. Halcyon(adj)

    hence: Calm; quiet; peaceful; undisturbed; happy


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