Novel Definition

nŏvəl
novels
noun
novels
Webster's New World
A relatively long fictional prose narrative with a more or less complex plot or pattern of events, about actions, feelings, motives, etc. of a group of characters.
Webster's New World
The type or form of literature represented by such narratives.
Webster's New World
A new law or decree, specif. one made by Justinian supplementary to the Justinian code.
Webster's New World

(now historical) A fable; a short tale, especially one of many making up a larger work. [from 16th c.]

Wiktionary
adjective
New and unusual; esp., being the first of its kind.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Novel

Noun

Singular:
novel
Plural:
novels

Origin of Novel

  • Ultimately from Old Italian novella piece of news, chit-chat, tale, novella from Vulgar Latin novella from neuter pl. of Latin novellus diminutive of novus new newo- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • In various senses from Old French novelle or Italian novella, both from Latin novella, a singular noun use of the neuter plural of novellus, from novus (“new"). Some senses came to English directly from the Latin.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old French novel (“new, fresh, recent, recently made or done, strange, rare") (modern nouvel), from Latin novellus (“new, fresh, young, modern"), diminutive of novus (“new").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin novellus diminutive of novus newo- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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