diaphane, a. and n.
(ˈdaɪəfeɪn)
[a. F. diaphane (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.); cf. Pr. diafan, It., Sp., Pg. diafano, med. and mod.L. diaphan-us; f. Gr. διαϕανής transparent, f. δια- through + -ϕανης showing, appearing, from ϕαίνειν to show, cause to appear.]
† A. adj. = diaphanous, transparent. Obs.
| 1561 Eden Arte of Nauig. i. i, Diaphane or transparent bodyes. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits vi. (1596) 77 Some haue colours, and some are diaphane and transparant. 1824 Ann. Reg. 270* A new manufacture of stuffs, with transparent figures, which he calls Diaphane Stuffs. |
B. n.
1. A transparent body or substance; a transparency.
| [1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. iv. ii. 296 Frequently both in the Language of the Holy Scripture, and of divers of the ancient Heathen Authors, the whole Diaphanum of the Air and æther is in one common appellation called Heaven; which is the denomination here given to this Expansum.] 1840 Mrs. Browning Drama of Exile Poems (1889) I. 100 Through the crystal diaphane. |
2. A silk stuff: see quot.
| 1824 [see A]. 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework 153 Diaphane, a woven silk stuff, having transparent coloured figures. |