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View synonyms for diaphanous

diaphanous

[ dahy-af-uh-nuhs ]

adjective

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


diaphanous

/ daɪˈæfənəs; ˌdaɪəfəˈniːɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. (usually of fabrics such as silk) fine and translucent


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Derived Forms

  • diˈaphanousness, noun
  • diˈaphanously, adverb

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Other Words From

  • 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
  • semi·di·apha·nous adjective
  • semi·di·apha·nous·ly adverb
  • semi·di·apha·nous·ness noun
  • undi·apha·nous adjective
  • undi·apha·nous·ly adverb
  • undi·apha·nous·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of diaphanous1

1605–15; < Medieval Latin diaphanus < Greek diaphan(ḗs) transparent, equivalent to diaphan-, stem of diaphaínein to show through ( dia-, -phane ( def ) ) + -ēs adj. suffix) + -ous

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Word History and Origins

Origin of diaphanous1

C17: from Medieval Latin diaphanus, from Greek diaphanēs transparent, from diaphainein to show through, from dia- + phainein to show

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Example Sentences

She works with a type of construction site netting which, in her hands, becomes a kind of diaphanous chainmail casting shadows of ancient Persian warriors, or illuminated carpet patterns that tell a contemporary story.

From Time

As the audience enters, the diaphanous curtains onstage are gently blowing in the breezes of the Amalfi coast.

From mesh and lace to the sheer and diaphanous, transparency was a clear favorite on the runways.

Some of the latter were so diaphanous as to be perfectly invisible when immersed in the water.

And far up in the heights, where his own ship could never reach and where no clouds could be, were diaphanous wraiths.

A filmy and diaphanous creature was Mrs. Patton also—one could never have dreamed of so exquisite a black butterfly.

Mrs. Patton was still in mourning, a filmy and diaphanous kind of mourning, beautiful enough to placate the angel Azrael himself.

And if any lady is to wear garments in his vicinity, I assume that those garments are to be anything except diaphanous!

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