novel

¹

[ nov-uhl ]

noun

1. a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes.
2. (formerly) novella ( def 1 ).

novel

²

[ nov-uhl ]

adjective

1. of a new and unusual kind; different from anything seen or known before:

   a novel idea.

2. not previously detected or reported:

   the emergence of novel strains of the virus.

novel

³

[ nov-uhl ]

noun

1. Roman Law.
   1. an imperial enactment subsequent and supplementary to an imperial compilation and codification of authoritative legal materials.
   2. Usually Novels, imperial enactments subsequent to the promulgation of Justinian's Code and supplementary to it: one of the four divisions of the Corpus Juris Civilis.
2. Civil Law. an amendment to a statute.

novel

¹

/ ˈnɒvəl /

noun

1. an extended work in prose, either fictitious or partly so, dealing with character, action, thought, etc, esp in the form of a story
2. the novel
   the literary genre represented by novels
3. obsolete.
   usually plural a short story or novella, as one of those in the Decameron of Boccaccio

novel

²

/ ˈnɒvəl /

adjective

1. of a kind not seen before; fresh; new; original

   a novel suggestion

novel

³

/ ˈnɒvəl /

noun

1. Roman law a new decree or an amendment to an existing statute See also Novels

novel

1. A long, fictional narration in prose. Great Expectationsand Huckleberry Finnare novels, as are War and Peaceand Lord of the Flies.

Other Words From

• novel·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of novel¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Italian novella (storia) “new (story)”; novel ²

Origin of novel²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, Middle French novel, from Old French novel, nouvel, from Latin novellus “fresh, young, novel,” diminutive of novus “new”; new

Origin of novel³

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin novella (constitūtiō) “a new (regulation, order)”; novel ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of novel¹

C15: from Old French novelle, from Latin novella ( narrātiō ) new (story); see novel ²

Origin of novel²

C15: from Latin novellus new, diminutive of novus new

Synonym Study

See new.

Example Sentences

Submission is less a novel of ideas than a political book, and of the most subversive kind.

From The Daily Beast

Houellebecq on Thursday announced that he is suspending promotion of the novel.

From The Daily Beast

He was not originally so uninhibited, however, as can now be seen in his “lost” novel, Skylight.

From The Daily Beast

His books include Render unto Rome and a novel about Louisiana politics, Last of the Red Hot Poppas.

From The Daily Beast

None of these writers set out to write an “immigrant novel,” or to make political statements.

From The Daily Beast

But the novel disappeared under the clothes with amazing celerity as the voice of her sister-in-law demanded admission.

From Project Gutenberg

Once on my legs I found that nervousness left me, words came freely and I even enjoyed the novel experience.

From Project Gutenberg

You will not read the book with the rapidity with which some young ladies are said to devour the latest novel.

From Project Gutenberg

I tried to forget the grotesque exhibition I had stumbled upon, in the novel and interesting scene about me.

From Project Gutenberg

I have a mild grievance against that talented lady, Miss Marjorie Bowen, for labelling her latest novel "a romantic fantasy."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fiction
• narrative
• novella
• paperback
• prose
• story
• tale
• yarn