Alcyone
/ælˈsaɪ.əˌniː/noun
A name used for a figure in Greek mythology and for the brightest star in the Pleiades.
Did you know?Alcyone comes from Greek mythology, where the story is tied to the kingfisher (halcyon) and a sea-calming sacred period, which is why “halcyon” later came to mean peaceful or tranquil.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἁλκυόνη (Halkyónē)
“A mythological name associated with the kingfisher and the daughter of Aeolus.”
Classical Latin
Latin
Alcyone
“The Latinized form of the Greek mythological name.”
Middle English
English
alcyon / halcyon
“A kingfisher; later, a calm or peaceful period.”
Modern English
English
Alcyone
“A proper name for the brightest star in the Pleiades or a mythological figure.”
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