What does "halcyon" mean?
A kingfisher whose nesting by the sea was said, in classical mythology, to cause the Gods to restrain the wind and waves.
Halcyon
/ˈhælʃən/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A kingfisher whose nesting by the sea was said, in classical mythology, to cause the Gods to restrain the wind and waves.
- Grammar: halcyon is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: at peace, at rest, auspicious, balmy.
- Useful contrasts: agitated, chaotic, crisis.
- Usage evidence: Everyone remembers the happy days of his youth as his halcyon days.
How to use "halcyon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "halcyon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "halcyon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "halcyon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "halcyon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "halcyon" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "at peace" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "halcyon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A kingfisher whose nesting by the sea was said, in classical mythology, to cause the Gods to restrain the wind and waves. poetic
"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 […]"
- 2 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 wordnet
- 3 A kingfisher whose nesting by the sea was said, in classical mythology, to cause the Gods to restrain the wind and waves.; The dead body of such a bird, said in Tudor times to act as a weather vane when hung from a beam. poetic
"But novv hovv ſtands the vvind? / Into vvhat corner peeres my Halcions bill?"
- 4 A tropical kingfisher of the genus Halcyon, such as the sacred kingfisher (Halcyon sancta) of Australia.
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
"Renege; affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks / With every gale and vary of their masters,"
- 2 Calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene. figuratively
"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."
Adjective
- 1 marked by peace and prosperity wordnet
- 2 idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Everyone remembers the happy days of his youth as his halcyon days."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "halcyon"?
Common synonyms include: at peace, at rest, auspicious, balmy, bloodless, blooming.
How do you use "halcyon" in a sentence?
Everyone remembers the happy days of his youth as his halcyon days.
How do you pronounce "halcyon"?
Pronounced /ˈhælʃən/.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English Alceoun, from Latin halcyōn, alcyōn (“kingfisher”), from Ancient Greek ἀλκυών (alkuṓn).