Today's 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.

Previous Words

Hedonist

Today's Word

Hedonist

HEE-duh-nist

Definition

(noun) A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure and sensory enjoyment is the highest good and chief aim of life

Example

A self-proclaimed hedonist, she planned her entire sabbatical around exceptional food, warm weather, and long afternoons with nothing to do.

Word Origin

Hedonist derives from the Greek hedone, meaning “pleasure” or “delight,” from hedys (“sweet”). The philosophical school of Hedonism was formally developed in ancient Greece — most notably by Epicurus, who argued that pleasure, properly understood, was the foundation of a good life. The word entered English in the 19th century as both a philosophical term and a descriptor for those who live purely for sensory gratification.

Fun Fact

Despite its reputation as a word for pure indulgence, hedonism has a surprisingly nuanced philosophical history. Epicurus — often credited as hedonism’s founding father — actually advocated for simple pleasures: good food shared with friends, intellectual conversation, and freedom from anxiety. It was his rival school, the Cyrenaics, who argued for maximizing immediate bodily pleasure at all costs. The modern connotation of hedonism as pure excess owes more to the Cyrenaics than to Epicurus, who would likely have been appalled by the comparison.

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Halcyon

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Hedonist

Hedonist

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Hedonist

Abjure

Punctilious

Impecunious

Caustic