Damascene

American  

[dam-uh-seen, dam-uh-seen] / ˈdæm əˌsin, ˌdæm əˈsin /

adjective

1. of or relating to the city of Damascus.

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

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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 British  

/ ˌdæməˈsiːn, ˈdæməˌsiːn /

adjective

1. of or relating to Damascus

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Damascus

2. a variety of domestic fancy pigeon with silvery plumage

damascene ² British  

/ ˌdæməˈsiːn, ˈdæməˌsiːn /

verb

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

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noun

1. a design or article produced by this process

adjective

1. of or relating to this process

Etymology

Origin of Damascene

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

Example Sentences

It’s not quite a Damascene conversion, but he’s certainly much more open to the technology’s upside potential.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

And the agnostic, for whom “True Haunting” could prove a Damascene moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

Many others were forced back to Yarmouk by sheer economics, including Wael Oweymar, a 50-year-old interior contractor who returned in 2021 because he could no longer afford rent in other Damascene suburbs.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2025

At Buuzecedi, a famous Damascene restaurant, men in bomber jackets sat at small, close-set tables, hunched over tea and falafel.

From New York Times • May 12, 2022

Bede and John Damascene in the viiith;—to Theophylact in the xith;—to Euthymius in the xiith59: but I forbear.

From The Last Twelve Verses of the Gospel According to S. Mark by Burgon, John William