Adiathermous

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing a material or medium that blocks the passage of radiant heat through it
2. Not allowing heat rays to pass through, so that thermal radiation is stopped or absorbed
3. Having the property of being impermeable to infrared or radiant thermal energy

Etymology: Adiathermous is a technical term from physics, coined in the nineteenth century from Greek roots. It is built from "a-", meaning "not" or "without", and "diathermous", which itself combines "dia-", meaning "through", with "thermē", the Greek word for heat, and the suffix "-ous". Literally, then, it means "not allowing heat to pass through." The contrast word "diathermous" describes substances, such as glass or certain gases, that transmit heat radiation. Its formation follows the same pattern as "diaphanous", meaning letting light through, and "diathermy", a medical term for heat treatment. The Greek roots were available to ancient writers, but the English adjective was formed by scientists who needed precise vocabulary for describing how materials respond to radiant heat, so no Greek or Roman speaker ever used it.

Synonyms: athermanous

Antonyms: diathermanous