| English Dictionary |
DAMOCLES
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
• DAMOCLES (noun)
The noun DAMOCLES has 1 sense:
1. 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)
Familiarity information: DAMOCLES used as a noun is very rare.
Sense 1
Meaning:
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)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Instance hypernyms:
courtier (an attendant at the court of a sovereign)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Don't have too many irons in the fire." (English proverb)
"To make a poor man poorer is not easy" (Breton proverb)
"Fire is more bearable than disgrace." (Arabic proverb)
"Even the king saves his money." (Corsican proverb)
"To make a poor man poorer is not easy" (Breton proverb)
"Fire is more bearable than disgrace." (Arabic proverb)
"Even the king saves his money." (Corsican proverb)