diaphanous

WOTD - 5 August 2007    

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin diaphanus (from Ancient Greek διαφανής) + -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /daɪˈæf.ən.əs/, SAMPA: /daI"{f.@n.@s/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

diaphanous (comparative more diaphanous, superlative most diaphanous)

1. Transparent; allowing light to pass through; capable of being seen through.
2. Of a fine, almost transparent texture, as eg. gossamer.

Synonyms

• translucent
• (of a fine, almost transparent texture): delicate, insubstantial

Antonyms

• opaque, concrete, solid

Translations

of a fine, almost transparent texture

Bulgarian: прозирен (bg) Croatian: dijafan (hr) Dutch: ragfijn (nl)

French: diaphane (fr) m. and f. German: durchscheinend (de), diaphan (de) Italian: diafano (it)

Transparent; allowing light to pass through; capable of being seen through

Bulgarian: прозрачен (bg) Croatian: proziran (hr), providan (hr), dijafan (hr) Dutch: doorzichtig (nl), doorschijnend (nl) French: diaphane (fr) m. and f.

German: durchscheinend (de), diaphan (de), durchsichtig (de) Greek: διαφανής (el) m. (diafanís) Ido: diafana (io) Spanish: diáfano (es)