novel

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A long written story about imaginary people and events.

   Our bookcases were filled with nothing but novels.

2. 2
   adj

   New and different in an interesting way.

   The team came up with a novel solution to the problem.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

The adjective novel entered English in the 15th century through Old French from Latin novellus, derived from novus “new,” and initially meant “recent.” The literary noun derives from Italian novella (storia), “new (story),” and ultimately from the same Latin source. Novel began to be used in its modern literary sense in the 1630s; initially, novels were distinguished from romances by being shorter and more connected to real life.

From Middle English novel, from Old French novelle, from Latin novella, feminine of novellus.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary