English
operetta
Operetta comes from Italian opera ‘work’, and goes back to Latin opera.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEopera
- Italianc. 1300–presentopera‘work’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentoperetta
- Englishtodayoperetta
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEopera
- Italianc. 1300–presentopera‘work’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentoperetta
- Englishtodayoperetta
Linked words
through Latin opera
operation, operate, operator, operative, oeuvre, ure, 9 more
through Italian opera ‘work’
Today it means
noun A lighter version of opera with a frivolous story and spoken dialogue.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin opera / operetta