diaphanous
Use Diaphanous in a sentence
ə adjective
1.
very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.
2.
delicately hazy.
Origin:
1605–15; < Medieval Latin diaphanus < Greek diaphan(ḗs) transparent (equivalent to diaphan-, stem of diaphaínein to show through (see dia-, -phane) + -ēs adj. suffix) + -ous
1605–15; < Medieval Latin diaphanus < Greek diaphan(ḗs) transparent (equivalent to diaphan-, stem of diaphaínein to show through (see dia-, -phane) + -ēs adj. suffix) + -ous
Related forms
di·aph·a·nous·ly, adverb
di·aph·a·nous·ness, noun
non·di·aph·a·nous, adjective
non·di·aph·a·nous·ly, adverb
non·di·aph·a·nous·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To diaphanous
00:10
Diaphanous
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
diaphanous (daɪˈæfənəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| (usually of fabrics such as silk) fine and translucent | |
| [C17: from Medieval Latin diaphanus, from Greek diaphanēs transparent, from diaphainein to show through, from | |
| di'aphanously | |
| —adv | |
| di'aphanousness | |
| —n | |
| diaphaneity | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
diaphanous
1614, from M.L. diaphanus, from Gk. diaphanes, from dia- "through" + phainesthai, middle voice form (subject acting on itself) of phainein "to show" (see phantasm).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Illuminated at night, it seems almost diaphanous.
The angled tips of the long, diaphanous forewings are distinctive.
Shattered ribs had probably punctured the diaphanous lung sacs, causing them to deflate.
Yet for all the success of the tailored top halves, the diaphanous chiffon tripped up the collection, literally and figuratively.
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