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skene1

[skee-nee]
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noun, plural ske·nai [skee-nahy] /ˈski naɪ/.
  1. (in the ancient Greek theater) a structure facing the audience and forming the background before which performances were given.
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Origin of skene1

< Greek skēnḗ; see scene

skene2

[skeen]
noun
  1. skean.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for skene

Historical Examples

  • Dr. Skene's belief as to the historical position of the F's, 46.

    The Testimony of Tradition

    David MacRitchie

  • It afterwards came into the possession of the Family of Skene.

  • As in Fordun: first drawn with horses and finally executed (Skene, i. 348).

    The Bruce

    John Barbour

  • Four years later, Scott sent for his old friend Skene of Rubislaw.

    Edinburgh

    Rosaline Masson

  • Skene says this “is the oldest authentic notice of St. Patrick.”

Word Origin and History for skene

n.

ancient type of Celtic dagger found in Ireland, double-edged and leaf-like, 1520s, from Irish Gaelic scian (genitive sceine) "knife," cognate with Gaelic sgian "knife," Welsh ysgien "a slicer," from PIE *skiy-ena-, from root *skei- "to divide, split" (see shed (v.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper