diathermancy

[ dahy-uh-thur-muhn-see ]

noun,plural di·a·ther·man·cies.
  1. the property of transmitting heat as electromagnetic radiation.

Origin of diathermancy

1
First recorded in 1830–40; from French diathermansie, from Greek dia- “through, completely” + thérmansis “heating,” equivalent to therman- (variant stem of thermaínein “to warm, heat,” derivative of thermós “hot”) + -sis noun suffix; see dia-, -sis

Other words from diathermancy

  • di·a·ther·ma·nous, adjective
  • non·di·a·ther·ma·nous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use diathermancy in a sentence

  • The good conductor is diathermanous to the electric current; it allows free transmission without the development of heat.

British Dictionary definitions for diathermancy

diathermancy

/ (ˌdaɪəˈθɜːmənsɪ) /


nounplural -cies
  1. the property of transmitting infrared radiation

Origin of diathermancy

1
C19: from French diathermansie, from dia- + Greek thermansis heating, from thermainein to heat, from thermos hot

Derived forms of diathermancy

  • diathermanous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012