gauzy
UK[ˈɡɔːzi]US[ˈɡɔːzi]
adj
(of fabric) very thin and light, so that you can see through it
adj
(of an idea, memory, etc.) vague, indistinct, or insubstantial
Morpheme Breakdown
gauze
y
gauze
sheer fabric
y
adjective-forming suffix
Etymology
the word 'gauzy' is a derivative of 'gauze', a term for a thin, transparent fabric. the origin of 'gauze' is traced to the french 'gaze', which is believed to be named after gaza, a historic city on the palestine coast renowned in medieval times as a center for the production and trade of fine silk. the adjective-forming suffix '-y', of old english and germanic origin, is appended to the noun to create a descriptive term meaning "resembling or made of gauze." over time, the meaning extended metaphorically from describing physical thinness and transparency to describing intangible things, such as ideas or memories, that are similarly vague or insubstantial.
Analysis
Structure: gauze (sheer fabric) + y (adjective-forming suffix)
gauze (from french 'gaze', likely from 'gaza', a city in palestine, from which fine silk fabric was once exported); y (from old english '-ig', a suffix forming adjectives meaning "characterized by, full of, having the qualities of").
Examples
she wore a gauzy white dress that floated around her as she danced.
the curtains were made of a gauzy material that softened the afternoon light.
only a gauzy recollection of the dream remained when he woke up.