Dictionary.com

diathermancy

[ dahy-uh-thur-muhn-see ]
/ ˌdaɪ əˈθɜr mən si /
Save This Word!
noun, plural di·a·ther·man·cies.
the property of transmitting heat as electromagnetic radiation.
QUIZ
ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ
There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!
Question 1 of 7
True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.
true
false
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of diathermancy

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, adjectivenon·di·a·ther·ma·nous, adjective

Words nearby diathermancy

diastolic, diastrophism, diastyle, diasystem, diatessaron, diathermancy, diathermic, diathermy, diathesis, diatom, diatomaceous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use diathermancy in a sentence

  • The Diathermancy of Ebonite, by some incomprehensible process, drove her bewildered mind back on her old companion.

    Heart and Science|Wilkie Collins

  • Have you ever heard, my dear, of the Diathermancy of Ebonite?

    Heart and Science|Wilkie Collins

  • Diathermancy, the property that is possessed in various degrees by different substances, of transmitting radiant heat.

    The New Gresham Encyclopedia|Various

  • The diathermancy of the plates in every case decreases very rapidly as their thickness is increased.

    The New Gresham Encyclopedia|Various

British Dictionary definitions for diathermancy

diathermancy
/ (ˌdaɪəˈθɜːmənsɪ) /
noun plural -cies
the property of transmitting infrared radiation

Derived forms of diathermancy

diathermanous, adjective

Word Origin for diathermancy

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