GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Novel , 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.
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   ☞ 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.
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   Novel assignment (Law), a new assignment or specification of a suit.
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   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.
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2.       
   Novel, n. [F. nouvelle. See Novel, a.]
   That which is new or unusual; a novelty.
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   pl. News; fresh tidings. [Obs.]
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   Some came of curiosity to hear some novels.
   Latimer.
   
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   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.
   
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   +PJC
   [L. novellae (sc. constitutiones): cf. F. novelles.] (Law) A new or supplemental constitution. See the Note under Novel, a.
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