DIAPHANOUS


Meaning of DIAPHANOUS in English

(ˈ)dī|afənəs adjective

Etymology: Medieval Latin diaphanus, from Greek diaphanēs, from diaphainein to show through, from dia- + phainein to show — more at fancy

1. : characterized by such fineness and delicacy of texture as to permit seeing through usually with a high degree of clarity

diaphanous gowns of chiffon, lace, or net

diaphanous water through which fish may be clearly seen

2. : composed or arranged to permit ready perception or comprehension of an inner or veiled essence or substance

I like diaphanous illusions, with the shapes of things as they are showing not too faintly through them — L.P.Smith

3. : characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ethereal

poetic and diaphanous landscapes — Wolfgang Born

the fantastic, the diaphanous , airy scherzo, nimble-footed and delicate, like a fairy's dance — Hugo Leichtentritt

4. : insubstantial , vague

the diaphanous possibility, becoming each day more amorphous — Donn Byrne

Synonyms: see clear

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.