diva

Forms

diva f (plural divas)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian diva (“celebrated singer; goddess”), which in Italian meant “goddess” from Dante (1317–1321) and “famous singer” from the 19th century.^[2][3] The Italian word is from Latin dīva (“goddess”), the feminine of dīvus (“divine”).^[2][4][1] Bloch and Wartburg describe the Italian word as a poetic term used of the beloved woman and of great singers.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DHLF finds it first in 1831; the TLFi's first record is Théophile Gautier's Albertus (1832), for a famous singer.^[3][2]

Semantic evolution

In the 19th century the word named a great opera singer, and it was used mockingly of operetta and café-concert singers.^[2] Littré still treated it as an Italian adjective, “divine”, put before a singer's name.^[6] About 1920 it was extended to a great female film star, and the masculine divo was used too.^[3] The diminutive divette (1890), borrowed from Italian divetta, named a popular café-concert or operetta singer and has since dated.^[3][5]

English took diva from Italian in 1864.^[7]

Timeline

• 1317–1321 – Italian diva “goddess” is used by Dante.^[2][3]
• 1831 – First recorded in French.^[3]
• 1832 – Gautier uses it in Albertus.^[2][8]
• 1890 – The diminutive divette is borrowed.^[3][5]
• c. 1920 – It is used of a great film star.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A famous opera singer of great talent; a diva.^[2][9]
2. (derisive) A singer of operetta or café-concert.^[2]
3. By extension, a celebrated female singer or star: une diva de la chanson.^[9][3]

Word family

• divette

Related words

• déesse
• dieu
• dive
• Latin dīvus

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert