halcyon: [14] Halcyon days, originally ‘days of calm weather’, but now used figuratively for a ‘past period of happiness and success’, are literally ‘days of the kingfisher’. The expression comes from Greek alkuonídes hēmérai ‘kingfisher’s days’, a term used in the ancient world for a period of 14 days fine or calm weather around the winter solstice which was attributed to the magical influence of the kingfisher. The origin of Greek alkúon is not known, although it was from earliest times associated with Greek háls ‘sea’ and kúōn ‘conceiving’ (whence the spelling halcyon).
halcyon (adj.)
"calm, quiet, peaceful," 1540s, in halcyon dayes (translating Latin alcyonei dies, Greek alkyonides hemerai), 14 days of calm weather at the winter solstice, when a mythical bird (also identified with the kingfisher) was said to breed in a nest floating on calm seas. The name of this fabulous bird is attested in Middle English as alcioun (late 14c.). The name is from Latin halcyon, alcyon, from Greek halkyon, variant (perhaps a misspelling) of alkyon "kingfisher," a word of unknown origin. The explanation that this is from hals "sea; salt" (see halo-) + kyon "conceiving," present participle of kyein "to conceive," literally "to swell" (see cumulus) probably is ancient folk-etymology to explain a loan-word from a non-Indo-European language. Identified in mythology with Halcyone, daughter of Aeolus, who when widowed threw herself into the sea and became a kingfisher.
双语例句
1. the halcyon days of her youth
她年轻时幸福安宁的日子
来自《权威词典》
2. It was all a far cry from those halcyon days in 1990, when he won three tournaments on the European tour.
这和1990年的那些美好时光大不相同，当时他在欧洲巡回赛中赢得了3场锦标赛。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Those were the halcyon days of Athens ( fifth century BC ) when she produced her finest poetry and drama, architecture and sculpture.
公元5世纪为雅典的太平盛世.雅典最优秀的诗歌、戏剧 、 建筑和雕刻均产生于这一时期.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. He yearned for the halcyon days of his childhood.
他怀念儿时平静幸福的日子。
来自辞典例句
5. Bouncing yellow and halcyon blue, make TV setting wall becomes the visual center of the room.