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Webster 1913 Edition


Halcyon

Hal′cy-on

(hăl′sĭ-ŏn)
,
Noun.
[L.
halcyon
,
alcyon
, Gr.
ἁλκυών
,
ἀλκυών
: cf. F.
halcyon
.]
(Zool.)
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.
Amidst our arms as quiet you shall be
As
halcyons
brooding on a winter sea.
Dryden.

Hal′cy-on

,
Adj.
1.
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.
2.
Hence: Calm; quiet; peaceful; undisturbed; happy.
“Deep, halcyon repose.”
De Quincy.

Webster 1828 Edition


Halcyon

HAL'CYON

,
Noun.
hal'shon. [L. halcyon; Gr. a king-fisher.]
The name anciently given to the king-fisher, otherwise called alcedo; a bird that was said to lay her eggs in nests, on rocks near the sea, during the calm weather about the winter solstice. Hence,

HAL'CYON

,
Adj.
Calm; quiet; peaceful; undisturbed; happy. Halcyon days were seven days before and as many after the winter solstice, when the weather was calm. Hence by halcyon days are now understood days of peace and tranquility.

Definition 2024


Halcyon

Halcyon

See also: halcyon

Translingual

Wikispecies

Proper noun

Halcyon f

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Alcedinidae – several tropical kingfishers.

References

  • Gill, F. and Wright, M. (2006) Birds of the World: Recommended English Names, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0691128276

See also

halcyon

halcyon

See also: Halcyon

English

Noun

halcyon (plural halcyons)

  1. In classical legends, a bird said to nest on the sea, thereby calming the waters; later usually identified with a type of kingfisher, hence (poetic) a kingfisher.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.12:
      the Halcyon bird, or as some call it Alcedo or Kings-fisher, exceeds all mens conceit. [] Gods decree hath been, that all the watrie wildernesse should be quiet and made calme, without raine, wind, or tempest, during the time the Halcyon sitteth and bringeth forth her young-ones [].
    • 1665, John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, IV iv 132:
      Amidst our arms as quiet you shall be / As halcyons brooding on a winter sea.
    • c.1880, Ambrose Bierce, On a Mountain:
      And, by the way, during those halcyon days (the halcyon was there, too, chattering above every creek, as he is all over the world) we fought another battle.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Dryden
      Amidst our arms as quiet you shall be / As halcyons brooding on a winter sea.
  2. A tropical kingfisher of the genus Halcyon, such as the sacred kingfisher Halcyon sancta of Australia.

Translations

Adjective

halcyon (comparative more halcyon, superlative most halcyon)

  1. Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher
  2. Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.

Quotations

1787 1842 1919 1963
ME « 15th c. 16th c. 17th c. 18th c. 19th c. 20th c. 21st c.
  • 1787Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Papers No. 30
    Reflections of this kind may have trifling weight with men who hope to see realized in America the halcyon scenes of the poetic or fabulous age.
  • 1842Thomas de Quincey, Cicero
    • Deep, halcyon repose.
  • 1919H.P. Lovecraft, The City
    I had wander’d in rapture beneath them, and bask’d in the Halcyon clime.
  • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess:
    The huge square box, parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when modish taste was just due to go clean out of fashion for the best part of the next hundred years.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also


Latin

halcyōn (kingfisher)

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀλκυών (alkuṓn, kingfisher).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈhal.kʏ.oːn/

Noun

halcyōn f (genitive halcyonis); third declension

  1. The halcyon; kingfisher.

Inflection

Third declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative halcyōn halcyonēs
genitive halcyonis halcyonum
dative halcyonī halcyonibus
accusative halcyonem halcyonēs
ablative halcyone halcyonibus
vocative halcyōn halcyonēs

Synonyms

Related terms