Definition of "halcyon"

halcyon

/ˈhælsi.ən/

noun
plural halcyons
1. (poetic) A kingfisher whose nesting by the sea was said, in classical mythology, to cause the Gods to restrain the wind and waves.
  Quotations
  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 […].
  1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […]
  Amidſt our Arms as quiet you ſhall be / As Halcyons Brooding on a Winter Sea.
  1665, John Dryden, The Indian Emperour […]‎, London: Printed by J.M. for H. Herringman, published 1667, Act IV, scene iv, page 51
  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.
  c. 1880, Ambrose Bierce, On a Mountain
  1. The dead body of such a bird, said in Tudor times to act as a weather vane when hung from a beam.
    Quotations
    But now how stands the wind?Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill?
    c. 1589–1590, Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Ievv of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, Act I
    Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaksWith every gale and vary of their master
    c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii]
2. A tropical kingfisher of the genus Halcyon, such as the sacred kingfisher (Halcyon sancta) of Australia.
adjective
comparative more halcyon, superlative most halcyon
1. Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
  Quotations
  Renege; affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks / With every gale and vary of their masters,
  c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene ii], page 84
2. (figurative) Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene.
  Quotations
  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.
  1787, Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Papers No. 30
  Deep, halcyon repose.
  1842, Thomas De Quincey, Cicero
  I had wander’d in rapture beneath them, and bask’d in the Halcyon clime.
  1919, H.P. Lovecraft, The City
  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.
  1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess‎

Definition of "halcyon"

halcyon

noun

Quotations

Quotations

adjective

Quotations

Quotations