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Damocles

noun Dam·o·cles \ ˈda-mə-ˌklēz \

Definition of Damocles

: a courtier of ancient Syracuse held to have been seated at a banquet beneath a sword hung by a single hair

—

Damoclean

play \ˌda-mə-ˈklē-ən\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of damocles

Latin, from Greek Damoklēs

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1578

in the meaning defined above

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