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)

1. Of the colour of a hyacinth (either the gem or the flower); reddish-gold (chiefly with reference to hair).
   • 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost‎^[1], 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.

2. Curling like the petals of the hyacinth.
3. Beautiful, like the mythological Hyacinthus.

Related terms

• hyacinth
• jacinth

Latin

Adjective

hyacinthine

1. vocative masculine singular of hyacinthinus