Definition of Novel

1. Noun. An extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story.


2. Adjective. Original and of a kind not seen before. "The computer produced a completely novel proof of a well-known theorem"
Exact synonyms: Fresh, New
Similar to: Original
Derivative terms: Freshness

3. Noun. A printed and bound book that is an extended work of fiction. "He burned all the novels"
Generic synonyms: Book, Volume
Derivative terms: Novelette, Novelist

4. Adjective. Pleasantly new or different. "Common sense of a most refreshing sort"
Exact synonyms: Refreshing
Similar to: New

Definition of Novel

1. a. Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.

2. n. That which is new or unusual; a novelty.

Definition of Novel

1. Adjective. new, original, especially in an interesting way ¹

2. Noun. (obsolete) A novelty; something new. (defdate 15th-18th c.) ¹

3. Noun. (context: now historical) A fable; a short tale, especially one of many making up a larger work. (defdate from 16th c.) ¹

4. Noun. A work of prose fiction, longer than a short story. (defdate from 17th c.) ¹

5. Noun. (classical studies historical) A new legal constitution in ancient Rome. (defdate from 17th c.) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Novel

1. a fictional prose narrative [n -S]

Medical Definition of Novel

1. Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising. 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. Novel assignment, a new assignment or specification of a suit. Synonym: 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. Origin: OF. Novel, nuvel, F. Nouvel, nouveau, L. Novellus, dim. Of novus new. See New. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Novel

nova scotia
novaculite
novaculites
novae
novakite
novalia
novalike
novas
novate
novated
novates
novating
novation
novations
novator
novel (current term)
novel human deoxyribonuclease
noveldom
noveldoms
novelese
noveleses
novelesque
novelette
novelettes
novelettish
novelisation
novelisations
novelise
novelised
novelises

Literary usage of Novel

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Animal Farm: A Fairy Storyby George Orwell by George Orwell (1996)
" This edition is being published to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of its original U.S. publication."

2. The Publishers Weekly by R.R. Bowker Company, Publishers' Board of Trade (U.S.), Book Trade Association of Philadelphia, American Book Trade Union, Am. Book Trade Association (1892)
"A novel. By WE NORRIS. 40015. 686. The Wonderful Adventures of Phra the ... A novel. By WALTER BESANT. 50 cents. 680. The Courting of Dinah Shadd. and Other ..."

3. The Cambridge History of American Literature by William Peterfield Trent (1921)
"A novel. 1889. Character and Comment. Selected from the novels of William Dean ... A novel. 1892. Christmas Every Day and Other Stories for Children. 1893. ..."

4. The Cambridge History of English Literature by Adolphus William Ward, Alfred Rayney Waller (1913)
"CHAPTER m Sterne, and the novel of His Times THE subject of this chapter is, virtually, the history of the English novel from 1760 to 1780, a crucial period ..."

5. Library Journal by American Library Association, Library Association (1922)
"Tragedy of the effects of thinking; from novel by WB Maxwell. ... Social problem drama; from novel by Winston Churchill. EARTHBOUND. Goldwyn. 8 reels. ..."

6. The Cambridge Modern History by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Acton, Ernest Alfred Benians, George Walter Prothero, Sir Adolphus William Ward (1907)
"The English novel, in the form under which we know it, ... The novel and the romance had completely distinct origins, the former being the descendant of the ..."

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