a fabulous bird associated with the winter solstice
4. a poetic name for the kingfisher
5. halcyon days
Word origin
C14: from Latin alcyon, from Greek alkuōn kingfisher, of uncertain origin
halcyon in American English
(ˈhælsiən)
noun
1.
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
2. Zoology
any of a genus (Halcyon) of kingfishers of S Asia and Australia
adjective
3.
of the halcyon
4.
tranquil, happy, idyllic, etc.
esp. in phr. halcyon days, usually with nostalgic reference to earlier times
Word origin
ME alcioun < L alcyon < Gr alkyōn, kingfisher, altered by folk etym. after Gr hals, sea
More idioms containing
halcyon
halcyon days
Examples of 'halcyon' in a sentence
halcyon
This had been too halcyon a day to clutter up the memory of it with some backwoods bully's melodramatic bellowings.
MacLeod, Charlotte SOMETHING IN THE WATER (2002)
A memento of youth, of halcyon days. But look deeper, beyond the frozen smiles, and there were stories behind the image.
Stuart Harrison LOST SUMMER (2002)
In those halcyon days, one successful passage paid three times over for the ship and her crew's wages.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT (2002)
It seemed longer; or rather, it seemed as if a dark, deep abyss separated us from the halcyon days that had preceded the disaster.
Elizabeth Peters HE SHALL THUNDER IN THE SKY (2002)
1 (adjective)
It was all a far cry from those halcyon days in 1990.
Synonyms
happy
golden
the golden age of American moviemaking
flourishing
prosperous
She has developed a prosperous business.
carefree
She remembered her years of carefree youth.
palmy
These are palmy days for the music industry.
2 (adjective)
Definition
peaceful, gentle, and calm
The next day dawned sunny with a halcyon blue sky.
Synonyms
peaceful
a peaceful scene
still
He sat very still for several minutes.
quiet
I just want a quiet life.
calm
The normally calm waters of Mururoa lagoon heaved and frothed.
gentle
a quiet and gentle man who liked sports and enjoyed life
mild
He is a mild man, reasonable almost to the point of blandness.
serene
She looked as calm and serene as always.
tranquil
The place was tranquil and appealing.
placid
the placid waters of Lake Erie
pacific
a pacific scene
undisturbed
the undisturbed waters of the lake
unruffled
Anne had remained unruffled, very cool and controlled.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calm
Definition
(of weather) windless
The normally calm waters of Mururoa lagoon heaved and frothed.
Synonyms
still,
quiet,
smooth,
peaceful,
mild,
serene,
tranquil,
placid,
halcyon,
balmy,
restful,
windless,
pacific
in the sense of carefree
Definition
without worry or responsibility
She remembered her years of carefree youth.
Synonyms
untroubled,
happy,
cheerful,
careless,
buoyant,
airy,
radiant,
easy-going,
cheery,
breezy,
halcyon,
sunny,
jaunty,
chirpy (informal),
happy-go-lucky,
blithe,
insouciant,
light-hearted,
lightsome (archaic)
in the sense of gentle
Definition
soft
a quiet and gentle man who liked sports and enjoyed life