halcyon

halcyon
\ \ [14] Halcyon days, originally ‘days of calm weather’, but now used figuratively for a ‘past period of happiness and success’, are literally ‘days of the kingfisher’. The expression comes from Greek alkuonídes hēméraikingfisher’s days’, a term used in the ancient world for a period of 14 days fine or calm weather around the winter solstice which was attributed to the magical influence of the kingfisher. The origin of Greek alkúon is not known, although it was from earliest times associated with Greek hálssea’ and kúōnconceiving’ (whence the spelling halcyon).

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Halcyon — (IPAEng|ˈhælsiən), a term that originates from the Greek myth of Alcyone, is used most often to mean golden or marked by peace and prosperity. Halcyon may refer to:Birds * Halcyon (genus), a type of bird * Tree kingfisher, a family of birds… …   Wikipedia

  • Halcyon — Halcyon …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Halcyon — «Halcyon» Сингл Orbital Выпущен 1992, 1993 Формат 7 и 12 грампластинки, CD Записан 1991 1993 Жанр электронная музыка …   Википедия

  • Halcyon — Hal cy*on (h[a^]l s[i^]*[o^]n), n. [L. halcyon, alcyon, Gr. alkyw n, alkyw n: cf. F. halcyon.] (Zo[ o]l.) A kingfisher. By modern ornithologists restricted to a genus including a limited number of species having omnivorous habits, as the sacred… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • halcyon — (adj.) 1540s, in halcyon dayes (L. alcyonei dies, Gk. alkyonides hemerai), 14 days of calm weather at the winter solstice, when a mythical bird (identified with the kingfisher) was said to breed in a nest floating on calm seas. From halcyon (n.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • halcyon — [hal′sē ən] n. [ME alcioun < L alcyon < Gr alkyōn, kingfisher, altered by folk etym. after Gr hals, sea] 1. a legendary bird, identified with the kingfisher, which is supposed to have a peaceful, calming influence on the sea at the time of… …   English World dictionary

  • Halcyon — 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. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: Calm; quiet; peaceful; undisturbed; happy …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Halcyon — bezeichnet eine Vogelgattung aus der Familie der Eisvögel, siehe Halcyon (Gattung) einen Ort in Kalifornien, in dem ein Tempel der Menschheit steht. Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demse …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • halcyon — ● halcyon nom masculin (de alcyon) Grand oiseau (martin chasseur) des régions tropicales de l Ancien Monde, se nourrissant d insectes, de lézards, de rongeurs, etc. halcyon [alsjɔ̃] n. m. ÉTYM. 1863, Littré; halcion, 1519; var. hellénisante de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • halcyon — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of a past time) idyllically happy and peaceful: halcyon days. ORIGIN originally denoting a mythical bird (usually identified with a species of kingfisher) said to breed in a nest floating at sea, charming the wind and waves into… …   English terms dictionary

  • Halcyon — HALCỸON, ŏnis, od. Halcyŏne, es, ist nach einiger Schreibart eben so viel, als Alcyon, od. Alcyone, daher letzteres insonderheit nachzusehen …   Gründliches mythologisches Lexikon

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