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

Derived Forms

• diˈaphanousness, noun
• diˈaphanously, adverb

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

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

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

Example Sentences

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg