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diaphanous - 4 dictionary results

di⋅aph⋅a⋅nous

  [dahy-af-uh-nuhs]
Use diaphanous in a Sentence
–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) + -ēs adj. suffix) + -ous

Related forms:
di⋅aph⋅a⋅nous⋅ly, adverb
di⋅aph⋅a⋅nous⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To diaphanous
di·aph·a·nous   (dī-āf'ə-nəs)   
adj.  
  1. Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent: diaphanous tulle.
  2. Characterized by delicacy of form. See Synonyms at airy.
  3. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Diaphanous

Di*aph"a*nous\, a. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to show or shine through; dia` through + ? to show, and in the passive, to shine: cf. F. diaphane. See Phantom, and cf. Diaphane, Diaphanic.] Allowing light to pass through, as porcelain; translucent or transparent; pellucid; clear.

Another cloud in the region of them, light enough to be fantastic and diaphanous. --Landor.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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diaphanous 
1614, from M.L. diaphanus, from Gk. diaphanes, from dia- "through" + phainesthai, middle voice form (subject acting on itself) of phainein "to show."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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