diaphanous

adjective

di·aph·a·nous dī-ˈa-fə-nəs

Synonyms of diaphanous next

: 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.

Examples of diaphanous in a Sentence

the bride wore a diaphanous veil

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

His voice quivers, the acoustic guitars are nimble, and the cinematic strings shimmer like a diaphanous veil between earth and heaven. —

Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024 In this view, the displays appear as diaphanous white veils over Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as several Canadian provinces. —

Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 Then came Quan’s moving ballet, Beneath the Tides, set to Concert No. 1 by Camille Saint-Saëns, with House of Gilles’s stunning costumes: waist-cinching corsets with nothing beneath for the men and diaphanous midi dresses with flowing skirts for the women. —

Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2024 Saying something freshly substantive about female desire while honoring the film’s defining spirit of vapid, diaphanous horniness is a tricky, potentially unworkable brief. —

Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for diaphanous

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