English
diva
Diva comes from Italian diva ‘diva, goddess’, from Latin dīvus ‘divine, divine one’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dyew- ‘sky, heaven’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dyew-‘sky, heaven’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*deywós‘god’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*deiwos‘god’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*deiwā‘goddess’reconstructedfeminine of *deiwos
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEdeivā
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīvus‘divine, divine one’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīva‘goddess’female of dīvus
- Italianc. 1300–presentdiva‘diva, goddess’
- Englishearliest quotation 2026same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dyew-‘sky, heaven’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*deywós‘god’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*deiwos‘god’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*deiwā‘goddess’reconstructedfeminine of *deiwos
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEdeivā
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīvus‘divine, divine one’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīva‘goddess’female of dīvus
- Italianc. 1300–presentdiva‘diva, goddess’
- Englishearliest quotation 2026same form
Earliest quotation: 2026, @ActuallyNoBlake, X (post): “What a diva i love her”.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *dyew- ‘sky, heaven’
journal, journey, die, dev, diary, dial, meridian, sojourn, jovial, diurnal, deism, deist, 29 more
through Proto-Indo-European *deywós ‘god’
through Proto-Italic *deiwos ‘god’
deity, joss, divinity, deuce, divination, deification, diviner, 11 more
through Latin dīvus ‘divine, divine one’
through Italian diva ‘diva, goddess’
Today it means
noun Any female celebrity, usually a well known singer or actress.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dyew- / diva