Dictionary Definition
diva n : a distinguished female operatic singer;
a female operatic star [syn: prima donna]
[also: dive (pl)]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
From diva (“diva, goddess”), from Latin diva (“goddess”), female of divus (“divine, divine one”).Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -iːvə
Noun
- prima donna, the principal female singer of an opera company, or opera star.
- A principal female in some other field, e.g. a prima ballerina.
- Any female celebrity, usually a well known pop singer.
- A person who considers herself (or by extension himself) much more important than others, has high expectations of others and becomes angry when their standards or demands are not met.
Translations
opera star
- German: Diva
- Hungarian: díva
a principal female in some other field
- Hungarian: díva
any female celebrity
- German: Diva
- Hungarian: díva
a person who considers herself much more
important than others
- German: Diva
- Hungarian: díva
References
Italian
Noun
(Masculine: divo)Extensive Definition
A diva is a celebrated female singer such as
Maria
Callas, Jenny Lind,
Nellie
Melba, Rose
Ponselle, Leontyne
Price, Joan
Sutherland, Birgit
Nilsson, Kathleen
Battle, Beverly
Sills or Renata
Tebaldi.
However, the term is now also used to refer to an
outstanding popular female performer of non-operatic works, such as
Madonna,
Britney
Spears, Christina
Aguilera, Aretha
Franklin, Diana Ross,
Alicia
Keys, Björk, Beyonce, Mariah
Carey, Whitney
Houston, Celine Dion,
Patti
Labelle, Barbra
Streisand, Gloria
Estefan, Cher, Tina Turner
who are often referred to as divas due to their success and
talent.
Also, some prominent women adored in gay male pop culture are referred to
as divas, such as Taborah, Kathy
Griffin, Joy Behar, and
Joan
Rivers.
The term was originally used to describe a woman
of rare, outstanding talent. It derives from the Italian
word 'diva' meaning "goddess" or "fine lady"http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=diva.
TIME
magazine observed in its October 21, 2002 issue: "By definition, a
diva was originally used for great female opera singers, almost
always sopranos."
In ballet, the equivalent of a diva
is a prima
ballerina assoluta.
Negative connotation
The term is often used with a negative connotation. This derives from the implication that a star who is a "diva" is arrogant, difficult to work with, high-maintenance, manipulative, fussy, highly strung, privileged and demanding. He or she does not believe the law and accepted rules of courtesy apply to him or her. Professional actors often use this term to describe someone who desires the stage spotlight over others. Actress Debra Winger has been described as the "biggest diva in Hollywood".The term "prima donna"
has similarly entered common usage with exactly the same negative
meaning.
Professional wrestling
The term Diva is also
often used in
World Wrestling Entertainment to describe its more well-known
female performers, such as Mickie
James, Candice
Michelle, Melina Perez
and Torrie
Wilson.
See also
External links
- Laughing Bodies, Eccentric Gestures; Retrospective on Female comics and Divas in the films of the 1910s at the Austrian Film Museum
- The New-Diva Disease; TIME Magazine article
- Divas Spanish Operatic popDivas website (Spanish)
diva in Danish: Diva
diva in German: Diva
diva in French: Diva (musique classique)
diva in Malay (macrolanguage): Diva
diva in Finnish: Diiva
diva in Swedish: Diva
diva in Vietnamese: Diva
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
Heldentenor, Meistersinger, alto, aria singer, baritenor, baritone, bass, basso, basso buffo, basso
cantante, basso profundo, blues singer, canary, cantatrice, cantor, caroler, chanter, chantress, coloratura soprano,
comic bass, contralto,
countertenor,
crooner, danseur noble,
deep bass, dramatic soprano, feature attraction, first tragedian,
headliner, heavy lead,
hero, heroic tenor,
heroine, hymner, improvisator, jeune
premier, lead, lead singer,
leading lady, leading man, lieder singer, melodist, mezzo-soprano, opera
singer, prima ballerina, prima donna, principal, protagonist, psalm singer,
rock-and-roll singer, singer, singstress, songbird, songster, songstress, soprano, star, superstar, tenor, torch singer, vocalist, vocalizer, voice, warbler, yodeler