Editing Diva (section)

==Derivation==
The word entered the English language in the late 19th century.  It is derived from the [[Italian language|Italian]] [[noun]] ''diva'', a female deity. The [[plural]] of the word in English is "divas"; in Italian, ''dive'' {{IPA|it|ˈdiːve|}}. The basic sense of the term is ''[[goddess]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/diva|title=diva &#124; Origin and meaning of diva by Online Etymology Dictionary|website=www.etymonline.com}}</ref><ref>''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine observed in its October 21, 2002, issue: "By definition, a diva was originally used for great female opera singers, almost always [[soprano]]s."</ref> the feminine of the Latin word ''divus'' (Italian ''divo''), someone deified after death, or Latin ''[[deus]]'', a god.<ref>[[John Warrack|Warrack, John]] and West, Ewan (1992), ''The Oxford Dictionary of Opera''</ref>

The male form ''[[Wikt:divo|divo]]'' exists in Italian and is usually reserved for the most prominent leading tenors, like [[Enrico Caruso]] and [[Beniamino Gigli]]. The Italian term ''[[:it:divismo|divismo]]'' describes the [[Star system (filmmaking)|star-making system]] in the film industry. In contemporary Italian, ''diva'' and ''divo'' simply denote much-admired celebrities, especially film actresses and actors, and can be translated as "(film) star". The Italian actress [[Lyda Borelli]] is considered the first cinematic diva, following her breakthrough role in ''[[Love Everlasting (1913 film)|Love Everlasting]]'' (1913).<ref>Doane p.125</ref>

An extravagant admiration for divas is a common element of [[Camp (style)|camp]] culture.<ref>[http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/publications/wordisout/archive/04milnes.htm "Vamps, camps and archetypes: gay men, the diva phenomenon and the inner feminine"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904230040/http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/publications/wordisout/archive/04milnes.htm |date=September 4, 2009 }} by Andrew Milnes (2002)</ref>