• Today's Word

Halcyon

🔊 Listen to the word Halcyon

HAL-see-un

Definition

(adjective) Peaceful, calm, and prosperous; often referring to an idyllic time in the past.

Example

They often spoke fondly of their halcyon college days, when life felt full of promise and free of worry.

Word Origin

From Greek alkyōn—a mythical bird (often identified with the kingfisher) said to calm the sea while nesting.

Fun Fact

The phrase “halcyon days” comes from the ancient legend of the Halcyon bird, believed to nest on the sea during the winter solstice. Greek myth said the gods calmed the winds so her eggs could hatch safely, symbolizing peace and balance. Over time, halcyon came to describe any peaceful, golden period—those rare stretches of life when everything feels still and perfectly in harmony.