Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

diathermancy

noun
di·​a·​ther·​man·​cy | \ˌdīəˈthərmənsē\
variants: or diathermacy \-​məsē \
plural -es

Definition of diathermancy 

: the ability to transmit infrared radiation — compare athermancy

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for diathermancy

diathermancy from French diathermansie, from Greek dia- + thermansis heating, from thermainein to heat, from thermos hot; diathermacy from French diathermasie, from Greek diathermasia heating effect, from diathermainein to heat through, from dia- + thermainein

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about diathermancy

Share diathermancy

Statistics for diathermancy

Look-up Popularity

Comments on diathermancy

What made you want to look up diathermancy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

nidus

a nest or breeding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Late Autumn 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

  • frosted-autumn-leaves
  • Which is a synonym of yahoo?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games