halcyon
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Related to halcyon: Halcyon Days
hal·cy·on
(hăl′sē-ən)adj.
1. Calm and peaceful; tranquil.
2. Prosperous; golden: halcyon years.
n.
1. 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.
2. A kingfisher, especially one of the genus 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 .]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
halcyon
(ˈhælsɪən)adj
1. peaceful, gentle, and calm
2. happy and carefree
n
3. (Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth a fabulous bird associated with the winter solstice
4. (Animals) a poetic name for the kingfisher
5. halcyon days
a. a fortnight of calm weather during the winter solstice
b. a period of peace and happiness
[C14: from Latin alcyon, from Greek alkuōn kingfisher, of uncertain origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
hal•cy•on
(ˈhæl 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.
n. 5. 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.
6. any of various kingfishers, esp. of the genus Halcyon.
[1350–1400; Middle English alceon, alicion < Latin (h)alcyōn < Greek halkyṓn]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | Halcyon - (Greek mythology) a woman who was turned into a kingfisher Greek mythology - the mythology of the ancient Greeks |
2. | Halcyon - a large kingfisher widely distributed in warmer parts of the Old World bird genus - a genus of birds Alcedinidae, family Alcedinidae - kingfishers | |
3. | halcyon - 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 mythical being - an imaginary being of myth or fable | |
Adj. | 1. | halcyon - idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity; "a halcyon atmosphere" |
2. | halcyon - marked by peace and prosperity; "a golden era"; "the halcyon days of the clipper trade" happy - enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure; "a happy smile"; "spent many happy days on the beach"; "a happy marriage" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
halcyon
adjective
1. happy, golden, flourishing, prosperous, carefree, palmy It was all a far cry from those halcyon days in 1990.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
halcyon
adjectiveThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
halcyon
[ˈhælsiən] adj → merveilleux/euseCollins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
halcyon
adj halcyon days → glückliche Tage pl
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
halcyon
[ˈhælsɪən] adj → sereno/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995