Divo
/ˈdiː.voʊ/noun
A highly celebrated male singer, actor, or other performer, especially one associated with opera.
Did you know?Its ancestor, Latin divus, was used for Roman emperors officially declared divine after death, giving today’s glamorous “divo” an unexpectedly imperial and sacred lineage.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dyew- / *deywós
“Sky, daylight, or a celestial being; the ancestral root behind words for gods and divinity.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
divus
“A god or a person regarded as divine, especially a deified emperor.”
Classical Latin
Latin
dīvus
“Divine, godlike, or belonging to a god.”
16th Century
Italian
divo
“A male deity; later, a famous male opera singer or performer.”
20th Century
English
divo
“A celebrated male performer, particularly an opera star.”