novel

n. [ F. nouvelle. See Novel, a. ] 1. That which is new or unusual; a novelty. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. News; fresh tidings. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Some came of curiosity to hear some novels. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A fictitious tale or narrative, longer than a short story, having some degree of complexity and development of characters; it is usually organized as a time sequence of events, and is commonly intended to exhibit the operation of the passions, and often of love. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

4. [ L. novellae (sc. constitutiones): cf. F. novelles. ] (Law) A new or supplemental constitution. See the Note under Novel, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. novel, nuvel, F. nouvel, nouveau, L. novellus, dim. of novus new. See New. ] Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In civil law, the novel or new constitutions are those which are supplemental to the code, and posterior in time to the other books. These contained new decrees of successive emperors. [ 1913 Webster ]

Novel assignment (Law), a new assignment or specification of a suit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- New; recent; modern; fresh; strange; uncommon; rare; unusual. -- Novel, New . Everything at its first occurrence is new; that is novel which is so much out of the ordinary course as to strike us with surprise. That is a new sight which is beheld for the first time; that is a novel sight which either was never seen before or is seen but seldom. We have daily new inventions, but a novel one supposes some very peculiar means of attaining its end. Novel theories are regarded with distrust, as likely to prove more ingenious than sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of novel, n. See Novel. ] A short novel; a novella. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Innovation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An innovator; an asserter of novelty. [ Obs. ] Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Cf. F. nouvelliste, It. novellista. ] A writer of news. [ Obs. ] Tatler (178). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Cf. F. nouvelliste. ] A writer of a novel or novels. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Novelized p. pr. & vb. n. Novelizing ] 1. To innovate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put into the form of novels; to represent by fiction; to fictionalize. “To novelize history.” Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To innovate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. novelerie. ] Novelty; new things. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]