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

Examples of diaphanous in a Sentence

the bride wore a diaphanous veil

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Need to Know The diaphanous design has achieved cult status since its debut 16 years ago—and this month, its producer is making a major Stateside splash September 17, 2024 Tim Lenz / Styling: Benjamin Reynaert All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. —Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2024

Steve Granitz Halle Berry isn’t the only star to embrace diaphanous dressing this week. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2024

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

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