05 July 2009

How common is "halcyon"?


hal⋅cy⋅on  /ˈhælsiən/

–adjective Also, hal⋅cy⋅o⋅ni⋅an  /ˌhælsiˈoʊniən/
hal⋅cy⋅on⋅ic  /ˌhælsiˈɒnɪk/

1. calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather.
2. rich; wealthy; prosperous: halcyon times of peace.
3. happy; joyful; carefree: halcyon days of youth.
4. of or pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.

–noun
5. a mythical bird, usually identified with the kingfisher, said to breed about the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea, and to have the power of charming winds and waves into calmness.
6. any of various kingfishers, esp. of the genus Halcyon.
7. (initial capital letter) Classical Mythology. Alcyone (def. 2).

Origin:
1350–1400; L to Gk halkyn, pseudo-etymological var. of alkyn kingfisher; r. ME alceon, alicion to L alcyōn to Gk

Synonyms:
1. serene, placid, pacific, untroubled.

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Al⋅cy⋅o⋅ne  /ælˈsaɪəˌni/

–noun
1. a third-magnitude star in the constellation Taurus: brightest star in the Pleiades.
2. Also, Halcyon, Halcyone. Classical Mythology. a daughter of Aeolus who, with her husband, Ceyx, was transformed into a kingfisher.

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halcyon days
n
Definition: a period of peace and happiness; an idyllic time; also, a period of calm weather during the winter solstice
Etymology: Greek Alkyone a legend of fourteen windless days

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Hal⋅ci⋅on  /ˈhælsiˌɒn/

Trademark. a benzodiazepine, used as a sleeping drug and as an anxiolytic.

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