hyacinthine
English
Etymology
From Latin hyacinthinus, from Ancient Greek ὑακίνθινος (huakínthinos), from ὑάκινθος (huákinthos); corresponding to hyacinth + -ine.
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɪnθɪn
- Rhymes: -ɪnθaɪn
- Rhymes: -ɪnθiːn
Adjective
hyacinthine (comparative more hyacinthine, superlative most hyacinthine)
- Of the colour of a hyacinth (either the gem or the flower); reddish-gold (chiefly with reference to hair).
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book IV, lines 300-303,
- 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:
- 1871, Gail Hamilton, Gala-days (page 191)
- […] 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.
- 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:
- The beautiful boy has flowing or richly textured hyacinthine hair, the only luxuriance in this chastity.
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book IV, lines 300-303,
- Curling like the petals of the hyacinth.
- Beautiful, like the mythological Hyacinthus.
Related terms
- hyacinth
- jacinth
Latin
Adjective
hyacinthine
- vocative masculine singular of hyacinthinus