Dictionary

hyacinthine en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌhaɪ.əˈsɪn.θiːn/
• /ˌhaɪ.əˈsɪn.θɪn/
• /ˌhaɪ.əˈsɪn.θaɪn/

Etymology

From Latin hyacinthinus, from Ancient Greek ὑακίνθινος (huakínthinos), from ὑάκινθος (huákinthos); corresponding to hyacinth + -ine.

Meanings

1. Of the colour of a hyacinth (either the gem or the flower); reddish-gold (chiefly with reference to hair).
   • The beautiful boy has flowing or richly textured hyacinthine hair, the only luxuriance in this chastity. 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:
   • His fair large front and eye sublime declared / Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks / Round from his parted forelock manly hung / Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost_(1674)/Book_IV), Book IV, lines 300-303:
   • […] the nicest young man that ever was, — daintily gloved, patently booted, oilily curled, snowily wristbanded, with a lovely cambric (prima facie) handkerchief bound about his hyacinthine locks and polished hat. 1871, Gail Hamilton, Gala-days, page 191:
2. Curling like the petals of the hyacinth.
3. Beautiful, like the mythological Hyacinthus.

Forms

Relateds

hyacinth · jacinth · Hyacinthian