diaphanous Hear it!

diaphanous Definition

di·apha·nous (dī afə nəs)

adjective

  1. so fine or gauzy in texture as to be transparent or translucent diaphanous cloth
  2. vague or indistinct; airy

Etymology: ML diaphanus < Gr diaphanēs, transparent < diaphainein, to shine through < dia-, through + phainein, to show: see fantasy

diaphanous Related Forms

di·apha·nously adverb di·apha·nous·ness noun

diaphanous Synonyms

diaphanous

modif.

diaphanous Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • dress: Beyond the head, the stone wall seemed to have been carved in bas-relief with active young ladies in diaphanous dresses.
  • gown: Included are figures of ancient Egyptian royalty in diaphanous gowns, Greek peasants and Roman senators in traditional draped attire.
  • wing: The first and most notable is that the great majority of fairies are not tiny pretty beings with diaphanous wings.
  • veil: The diaphanous veil of clouds is clearly responsible for people being able to look upon the sun with the naked eye.
  • night-dress: She seemed to glide rather than walk and she wore a diaphanous night-dress which reached to the ground.
  • garment: A girdle holds up a diaphanous lower garment across her broad hips.

Browse dictionary entries near diaphanous

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