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.
   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
   
         
       

2.       
   Novel, n. [F. nouvelle. See Novel, a.]
   That which is new or unusual; a novelty.
   1913 Webster
   pl. News; fresh tidings. [Obs.]
   1913 Webster
   Some came of curiosity to hear some novels.
   Latimer.
   
   1913 Webster
   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
   [L. novellae (sc. constitutiones): cf. F. novelles.] (Law) A new or supplemental constitution. See the Note under Novel, a.
   1913 Webster