[di.aph.a.nous] adj [ML diaphanus, fr. Gk diaphanes, fr. diaphainein to show through, fr. dia- + phainein to show--more at fancy] (1614) 1: characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through
2: characterized by extreme delicacy of form: ethereal "painted ~ landscapes"
3: insubstantial, vague "had only a ~ hope of success" -- di.aph.a.nous.ly adv -- di.aph.a.nous.ness n