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?
What do the words diaphanous, epiphany, fancy, phenomenon, sycophant, emphasis, and phase all have in common? The Greek word phaínein shows more clearly in some of these words than in others, but it underlies all of them. The groundwork for diaphanous was laid when phaínein (meaning "to bring to light, cause to appear") was combined with the prefix dia- (meaning "through"). From that pairing came the Greek diaphanḗs ("transparent"), parent of the Medieval Latin diaphanus, which is the direct ancestor of the English word.
Cite this Entry
“Diaphanous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaphanous. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.
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