ceyx
ceyx Lexical Profile
• noun
In Greek mythology, the king of Trachis who, along with his wife Alcyone, was transformed by the gods into a halcyon (kingfisher) after a tragic shipwreck.
"The tragic romance of Ceyx and Alcyone explains the mythic origins of the halcyon days, a period of calm weather during the winter solstice."
A taxonomic genus of small river kingfishers in the family Alcedinidae, primarily found in the forested and riparian environments of Southeast Asia and Oceania.
"During the expedition to the Philippine archipelago, the ornithologists documented several brightly colored species belonging to the genus Ceyx."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word is almost universally capitalized as 'Ceyx', whether referring to the mythological figure or the zoological genus.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin Ceyx, derived from Ancient Greek Κήϋξ (Kḗüx). In Greek mythology, Ceyx was a king of Trachis transformed into a sea bird, which later inspired the naming of the avian genus.