HALCYON

golden, halcyon, prosperous

(adjective) marked by peace and prosperity; “a golden era”; “the halcyon days of the clipper trade”

halcyon

(adjective) idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity; “a halcyon atmosphere”

halcyon

(noun) 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

Halcyon, genus Halcyon

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

Alcyone, Halcyon

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

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

halcyon (plural halcyons)

(poetic) a kingfisher said in classical mythology to nest on the sea, thereby calming the waters.

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

Adjective

halcyon (comparative more halcyon, superlative most halcyon)

Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.

Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.

Synonyms

• (calm, serene): at peace, blissful, calm, peaceful, prelapsarian, relaxed, serene

Source: Wiktionary

Hal"cy*on, n. Etym: [L. halcyon, alcyon, Gr.halcyon.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: 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, a.

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition