novel1
/ˈnɒv(ə)l
/- As mystery fans know, Elizabeth George is an American writer, who writes best-selling mystery novels set in England.
- When I was fourteen or fifteen I read a trashy romance novel called Perfect by Judith McNaught.
- They both published bestselling first novels called Less Than Zero before graduating college.
Synonyms
- What would happen to a literary form like the novel if it was invisibly hollowed out rather than brilliantly exploded?
- Naipaul observed some years ago that the novel had become obsolete as a literary form.
- Has poetry suffered as the novel has risen in popularity and status over the last three centuries?
Origin
Mid 16th century: from Italian novella (storia) 'new (story)', feminine of novello 'new', from Latin novellus, from novus 'new'. The word is also found from late Middle English until the 18th century in the sense 'a novelty, a piece of news', from Old French novelle (see novel2).
As an adjective novel first meant ‘recent’. It entered English in the 15th century via Old French from the Latin novellus, which came from novus, ‘new’. Novel meaning ‘a book’ is at root the same word, deriving from Italian novella (storia) ‘new (story)’, also from novellus. People first started speaking of a literary novel when referring to The Decameron by Boccaccio, which we would nowadays call a collection of short stories. Novel in the modern sense first started being used in the 1630s. At first it was contrasted with romance, novels being shorter and having more connection to real life.
Rhymes
novel2
/ˈnɒv(ə)l/- Last autumn and winter brought the prospect of a new manager and fresh legs and novel ideas.
- I simply immerse myself in novel ideas and experiences, and leave it up to my brain to find a solution
- It is not surprising that Fisher's novel ideas took time to become accepted.
Synonyms
Derivatives
novelly
- Despite that resonance, Atwood's precepts, like those of Danish modernism, still had to be generically retooled and updated: hers are very novelly novels, in which monologues and flashbacks dominate.
- I didn't get into it right away, but the last little while I've been wanting to read a novel and much of what I have around isn't really novelly.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'recent'): from Old French, from Latin novellus, from novus 'new'.