dam·o·cle·an \|damə|klēən\adjective Usage: usually capitalized Etymology:Damocles, 4th century B.C. courtier in the retinue of Dionysius the Elder of Syracuse + English -an — more at sword of damocles 1.: of or relating to Damocles 2.: involving imminent danger < the Damoclean threat of surpluses and swiftly descending prices — New York Times >