novel

Etymology 1

From Middle English novel, from Old French novel (“new, fresh, recent, recently made or done, strange, rare”) (modern nouvel, nouveau), from Latin novellus (“new, fresh, young, modern”), diminutive of novus (“new”). Doublet of nouveau.

adj

1. Newly made, formed or evolved; having no precedent; of recent origin; new.
2. Original, especially in an interesting way; new and striking; not of the typical or ordinary type.

Etymology 2

, by Miguel de Cervantes, a notable example of a novel]] Borrowed from Italian novella, from Latin novella, feminine of novellus. Doublet of novella.

noun

1. A work of prose fiction, longer than a novella.
2. (historical) A fable; a short tale, especially one of many making up a larger work.

Etymology 3

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

noun

1. (obsolete) A novelty; something new.

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Latin novella, feminine of novellus.

noun

1. (classical studies, historical) A new legal constitution in ancient Rome.
   The normal and natural relationship of emperor and churchman was summed up by Justinian in one of his novels […] 1979, Jeffrey Richards, The Popes and the Papacy in the Early Middle Ages, 476–752, page 15