English Explanatory Dictionary

halcyon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A kingfisher whose nesting by the sea was said, in classical mythology, to cause the Gods to restrain the wind and waves.
  2. The dead body of such a bird, said in Tudor times to act as a weather vane when hung from a beam.
  3. A tropical kingfisher of the genus Halcyon, such as the sacred kingfisher (Halcyon sancta) of Australia.
adj
  1. Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
  2. Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.

Pronunciation

/ˈhælsi.ən/ /ˈhælʃən/ /ˈhælʃi.ən/ en-us-halcyon.ogg

Word forms

halcyon halcyons alcyon more halcyon most halcyon

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English Alceoun, from Latin halcyōn, alcyōn (“kingfisher”), from Ancient Greek ἀλκυών (alkuṓn).

Synonyms

at peace blissful calm peaceful prelapsarian relaxed serene faint hushed low muffled quiet quiet as a grave quiet as a mouse quiet as a church mouse soft still stifled tranquil

Related words

Alcyone

Derived words

halcyon days
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