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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

di·aph·a·nous

Audio Help [dahy-af-uh-nuh

s] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.

2.	delicately hazy.

[Origin: 1605–15; < ML diaphanus < Gk diaphan(s) transparent (equiv. to diaphan-, s. of diaphaínein to show through (see dia-, -phane) + -és adj. suffix) + -ous

]

—Related forms

di·aph·a·nous·ly, adverb

di·aph·a·nous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
diaphanous

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

di·aph·a·nous Audio Help (dī-āf'ə-nəs) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent: diaphanous tulle.
Characterized by delicacy of form. See Synonyms at airy.
Vague or insubstantial: diaphanous dreams of glory.

[From Medieval Latin diaphanus, transparent, from Greek diaphanēs, from diaphainein, to be transparent : dia-, dia- + phainein, phan-, to show; see bhā-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

di'a·pha·ne'i·ty (dī'ə-fə-nē'ĭ-tē), di·aph'a·nous·ness n., di·aph'a·nous·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
diaphanous

1614, from M.L. diaphanus, from Gk. diaphanes, from dia- "through" + phainesthai, middle voice form (subject acting on itself) of phainein "to show."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

diaphanous
adjective
so thin as to transmit light; "a hat with a diaphanous veil"; "filmy wings of a moth"; "gauzy clouds of dandelion down"; "gossamer cobwebs"; "sheer silk stockings"; "transparent chiffon"; "vaporous silks"