diaphanous

adjective

di·aph·a·nous dī-ˈa-fə-nəs How to pronounce diaphanous (audio)

: characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through

diaphanous fabrics

a diaphanous curtain

: characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ethereal

painted diaphanous landscapes

: insubstantial, vague

had only a diaphanous hope of success

diaphanously adverb

diaphanousness noun

Did you know?

Can you guess which of the following words come from the same Greek root as diaphanous?

A. epiphany B. fancy C. phenomenon D. sycophant E. emphasis F. phase

The Greek word phainein shows through more clearly in some of our quiz words than others, but it underlies all of them. The groundwork for diaphanous was laid when phainein (meaning "to show") was combined with dia- (meaning "through"). From that pairing came the Greek diaphanēs, parent of the Medieval Latin diaphanus, which is the direct ancestor of our English word.

Example Sentences

the bride wore a diaphanous veil

Recent Examples on the Web Characterized by sheer white tones with a glossy finish, the milky nail look supplies a more natural effect; one that looked beautiful against Lopez’s glowing skin, bright wedding gown, and diaphanous tulle veil on her big day.

Violeta Valdés, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2022 The mascot’s diaphanous wings illuminate with the car’s lights.

Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 4 Aug. 2022 In this zoomed in MIRI-NIRCam composite image of the Cosmic Cliffs, planet-forming rings of dust show up in pink and red around stars, and hydrocarbons give off a diaphanous glow much like clouds seen in Earth’s twilight sky.

Fionna M. D. Samuels, Scientific American, 21 July 2022 Even the diaphanous chiton-like dresses that Maria Grazia does nearly every season feel like a special, possibly sacred code of femininity.

Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 July 2022 Varun Rana, who worked for Sabyasachi as an assistant designer in 2004, recalled walking with him through a local bazaar and stumbling on a diaphanous textile in crimson.

New York Times, 22 June 2022 The baby, wearing a diaphanous dress of a pale blue color and a little white bow in her hair, which is the same red color as Prince Harry's hair, is pictured smiling happily on a lawn.

Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 6 June 2022 Scrolling below us was a mesmerizing, diaphanous panorama of rainbow parrotfish and blue angelfish darting in and out of the reef.

Tom Vanderbilt, Outside Online, 2 July 2019 The diaphanous sleeves that draped so elegantly off her shoulders were attached to the dress with an edgy metal collar.

Sarah Spellings, Vogue, 5 May 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

extension with -ous of Medieval Latin diafanus, diaphanus, borrowed from Greek diaphanḗs "transparent, manifest, conspicuous," adjective derivative from the stem of diaphaínein "to let be seen through," diaphaínesthai "to show through, be seen through," from dia- dia- + phaínein (active voice) "to bring to light, cause to appear," and phaínesthai (middle voice) "to become visible, come to light, appear" — more at fantasy entry 1

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

单词	diaphanousness
释义	diaphanous adjective di·aph·a·nous dī-ˈa-fə-nəs 1 : characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through diaphanous fabrics a diaphanous curtain 2 : characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ethereal painted diaphanous landscapes 3 : insubstantial, vague had only a diaphanous hope of success diaphanously adverb diaphanousness noun Did you know? Can you guess which of the following words come from the same Greek root as diaphanous? A. epiphany B. fancy C. phenomenon D. sycophant E. emphasis F. phase The Greek word phainein shows through more clearly in some of our quiz words than others, but it underlies all of them. The groundwork for diaphanous was laid when phainein (meaning "to show") was combined with dia- (meaning "through"). From that pairing came the Greek diaphanēs, parent of the Medieval Latin diaphanus, which is the direct ancestor of our English word. Synonyms cobwebby filmy gauzelike gauzy gossamer gossamery see-through sheer transparent See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences the bride wore a diaphanous veil Recent Examples on the Web Characterized by sheer white tones with a glossy finish, the milky nail look supplies a more natural effect; one that looked beautiful against Lopez’s glowing skin, bright wedding gown, and diaphanous tulle veil on her big day. Violeta Valdés, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2022 The mascot’s diaphanous wings illuminate with the car’s lights. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 4 Aug. 2022 In this zoomed in MIRI-NIRCam composite image of the Cosmic Cliffs, planet-forming rings of dust show up in pink and red around stars, and hydrocarbons give off a diaphanous glow much like clouds seen in Earth’s twilight sky. Fionna M. D. Samuels, Scientific American, 21 July 2022 Even the diaphanous chiton-like dresses that Maria Grazia does nearly every season feel like a special, possibly sacred code of femininity. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 July 2022 Varun Rana, who worked for Sabyasachi as an assistant designer in 2004, recalled walking with him through a local bazaar and stumbling on a diaphanous textile in crimson. New York Times, 22 June 2022 The baby, wearing a diaphanous dress of a pale blue color and a little white bow in her hair, which is the same red color as Prince Harry's hair, is pictured smiling happily on a lawn. Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 6 June 2022 Scrolling below us was a mesmerizing, diaphanous panorama of rainbow parrotfish and blue angelfish darting in and out of the reef. Tom Vanderbilt, Outside Online, 2 July 2019 The diaphanous sleeves that draped so elegantly off her shoulders were attached to the dress with an edgy metal collar. Sarah Spellings, Vogue, 5 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology extension with -ous of Medieval Latin diafanus, diaphanus, borrowed from Greek diaphanḗs "transparent, manifest, conspicuous," adjective derivative from the stem of diaphaínein "to let be seen through," diaphaínesthai "to show through, be seen through," from dia- dia- + phaínein (active voice) "to bring to light, cause to appear," and phaínesthai (middle voice) "to become visible, come to light, appear" — more at fantasy entry 1 First Known Use 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1 diaphanousness noun as in insubstantiality Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance insubstantiality frangibility wispiness exquisiteness daintiness fragility flimsiness fineness delicacy friability brittleness crumbliness Antonyms & Near Antonyms roughness coarseness rudeness solidity strength firmness crudeness crudity See More
随便看	poriferas poriferous porifers poriform porina porina grub poriness poring poring (over) poring over Porirua porisms Porites poritoid pork pork barrel pork belly pork butcher pork measles pork rind pork rinds pork-barreling porkburger porkchopper porkchops

diaphanous

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun