Damascene

[dam-uh-seen, dam-uh-seen]

adjective

1. of or relating to the city of Damascus.

2. (lowercase),  of or relating to the art of damascening.

noun

1. an inhabitant of Damascus.

2. (lowercase),  work or patterns produced by damascening.

verb (used with object)

Damascened, Damascening 

1. (lowercase),  Also damaskeen to produce wavy lines on (Damascus steel).

Damascene

¹

/ ˌdæməˈsiːn, ˈdæməˌsiːn /

adjective

1. of or relating to Damascus

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Damascus

2. a variety of domestic fancy pigeon with silvery plumage

damascene

²

/ ˌdæməˈsiːn, ˈdæməˌsiːn /

verb

1. (tr) to ornament (metal, esp steel) by etching or by inlaying, usually with gold or silver

noun

1. a design or article produced by this process

adjective

1. of or relating to this process

Word History and Origins

Origin of Damascene¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin Damascēnus of Damascus < Greek Damaskēnós, equivalent to Damask ( ós ) Damascus + -ēnos -ene

Word History and Origins

Origin of Damascene¹

C14: from Latin damascēnus of Damascus

Example Sentences

While there, she had an epiphany about pursuing an acting career in a damascene moment involving a low-lying mountain that she glimpsed from a road.

From New York Times

The tchotchkes I carried from home to home had multiplied: damascene pill boxes, wood coasters, miniature tagines, antique rugs, textiles of all kinds.

From New York Times

Conspiracies are best left to Netflix period dramas with bouffant breeches and damascened daggers.

From The Guardian

High winds from the south laid the grass flat all day, turning it to a dull, damascene silver.

From Literature

Under the hood, so heavy it takes two of General Lyon’s men to lift it, the straight-8, cast-en-bloc engine is a beautiful and terrifying enterprise of chrome, black enamel, and damascened steel.

From The Guardian