skene¹

[skee-nee]

noun, plural ske·nai

[skee-nahy] /ˈski naɪ/.

(in the ancient Greek theater) a structure facing the audience and forming the background before which performances were given.

Origin of skene¹

< Greek skēnḗ; see scene

skene²

[skeen]

noun

skean.

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.
The Works of John Knox, Volume 2 (of 6)
John Knox
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.”
Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum
John Healy

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.)).

skene.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}skene1

skene2

Examples from the Web for skene

Historical Examples

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

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

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

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

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

Word Origin and History for skene

n.

skene¹

Origin of skene¹

skene²