Definition of Damocles

1. Noun. The Greek courtier to Dionysius the Elder who (according to legend) was condemned to sit under a naked sword that was suspended by a hair in order to demonstrate to him that being a king was not the happy state Damocles had said it was (4th century BC).

Generic synonyms: Courtier

Lexicographical Neighbors of Damocles

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Margot Fonteyn
Dame Muriel Spark
Dame Myra Hess
Dame Nellie Melba
Dame Rebecca West
Dame Sybil Thorndike
Dameli
Damgalnunna
Damian
Damianist
Damianists
Damien
Damkina
Dammam
Damocles
Damocloid
Damocloids
Damon
Damon Runyon
Damon and Pythias
Dampier
Damus-Kaye-Stancel procedure
Damus-Stancel-Kaye anastomosis
Dan.
Dana
Dana's operation
Danaan
Danaea
Danaidae

Literary usage of Damocles

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Lessons in Elocution, Or, A Selection of Pieces in Prose and Verse: For the by William Scott (1789)
"damocles, one of his flatterers, was complimenting him upon his power,-liis ... damocles gladly accepted the offer. Upon which the king ordered, ..."

2. Lessons in Elocution: Or, A Selection of Pieces, in Prose and Verse, for the by William Scott (1820)
"damocles, one of his flatterers, was complimenting him upon his power, ... damocles gladly accepted the offer.. Upon which the king ordered that a royal ..."

3. The Art of Speaking: Containing, an Essay, in which are Given Rules for by James Burgh (1804)
"damocles gladly accepted the offer. Upon which the king ordered that a royal ... damocles, one of his flatterers, was complimenting him upon his power, ..."

4. Italy and Her Invaders by Thomas Hodgkin (1880)
"The Sword of damocles. together. Moreover, the worry of the present did BOOK in. not blind him to the calamities which were to come, for he who had trodden ..."

5. Lessons in Elocution: Or, a Selection of Pieces in Prose and Verse for the by William Scott (1823)
"damocles, one of his flatterers, was complimenting him upon his power ... damocles gladly accepted the offer. Upon which the king ordered that a royal ..."

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