diaphanous

[ dahy-af-uh-nuhs ]

/ daɪˈæf ə nəs /

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See synonyms for diaphanous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.

delicately hazy.

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Origin of diaphanous

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

OTHER WORDS FROM diaphanous

di·aph·a·nous·ly, adverbdi·aph·a·nous·ness, nounnon·di·aph·a·nous, adjectivenon·di·aph·a·nous·ly, adverb

non·di·aph·a·nous·ness, nounsem·i·di·aph·a·nous, adjectivesem·i·di·aph·a·nous·ly, adverbsem·i·di·aph·a·nous·ness, nounun·di·aph·a·nous, adjectiveun·di·aph·a·nous·ly, adverbun·di·aph·a·nous·ness, noun

Words nearby diaphanous

diapente, diaper, diaper rash, diaphaneity, diaphanometer, diaphanous, diaphone, diaphony, diaphorase, diaphoresis, diaphoretic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use diaphanous in a sentence

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.
The Quietly Rebellious Art of Iranian Women and What We Can Learn From Them|Susanna Schrobsdorff|September 20, 2021|Time
As the audience enters, the diaphanous curtains onstage are gently blowing in the breezes of the Amalfi coast.
Tennessee Williams' Forgotten Masterpiece|Janice Kaplan|January 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
From mesh and lace to the sheer and diaphanous, transparency was a clear favorite on the runways.
'Molto Sexy' in Milan|Isabel Wilkinson|September 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Some of the latter were so diaphanous as to be perfectly invisible when immersed in the water.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King

And far up in the heights, where his own ship could never reach and where no clouds could be, were diaphanous wraiths.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931|Various
A filmy and diaphanous creature was Mrs. Patton also—one could never have dreamed of so exquisite a black butterfly.
Love's Pilgrimage|Upton Sinclair
Mrs. Patton was still in mourning, a filmy and diaphanous kind of mourning, beautiful enough to placate the angel Azrael himself.
Love's Pilgrimage|Upton Sinclair
And if any lady is to wear garments in his vicinity, I assume that those garments are to be anything except diaphanous!
In Search of the Unknown|Robert W. Chambers

British Dictionary definitions for diaphanous

diaphanous

/ (daɪˈæfənəs) /

adjective

(usually of fabrics such as silk) fine and translucent

Derived forms of diaphanous

diaphanously, adverbdiaphanousness or diaphaneity (ˌdaɪəfəˈniːɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for diaphanous

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

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

diaphanous

Origin of diaphanous

OTHER WORDS FROM diaphanous

Words nearby diaphanous

Words related to diaphanous

How to use diaphanous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for diaphanous

Derived forms of diaphanous

Word Origin for diaphanous