'Novel' definitions:
Definition of 'novel'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Original and of a kind not seen before; "the computer produced a completely novel proof of a well-known theorem" [syn: fresh, new, novel]
adjective
Pleasantly new or different; "common sense of a most refreshing sort" [syn: novel, refreshing]
noun
An extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
noun
A printed and bound book that is an extended work of fiction; "his bookcases were filled with nothing but novels"; "he burned all the novels"
Definition of 'Novel'
From: GCIDE
- Novel \Nov"el\, n. [F. nouvelle. See Novel, a.]
- 1. That which is new or unusual; a novelty. [1913 Webster]
- 2. pl. News; fresh tidings. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- Some came of curiosity to hear some novels. --Latimer. [1913 Webster]
- 3. 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]
- 4. [L. novellae (sc. constitutiones): cf. F. novelles.] (Law) A new or supplemental constitution. See the Note under Novel, a. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Novel'
From: GCIDE
- Novel \Nov"el\, 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]
- Note: 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.
- Usage: 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]
Synonyms of 'novel'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- authentic,
- avant-garde,
- bauble,
- best seller,
- bibelot,
- Bildungsroman,
- blockbuster,
- book,
- bound book,
- classic,
- coloring book,
- comic novel,
- creative,
- curio,
- definitive work,
- detective novel,
- different,
- dime novel,
- dreadful,
- epistolary novel,
- erotic novel,
- firsthand,
- folio,
- fresh,
- gewgaw,
- gimcrack,
- Gothic novel,
- great work,
- hardback,
- historical novel,
- imaginative,
- juvenile,
- juvenile book,
- limp-cover book,
- magnum opus,
- modern,
- modernistic,
- narrative,
- neoteric,
- new,
- new-fashioned,
- newfangled,
- nonbook,
- notebook,
- nouvelle,
- novel of character,
- novel of ideas,
- novel of incident,
- novel of manners,
- novel of sensibility,
- novelette,
- novella,
- odd,
- opus,
- opuscule,
- opusculum,
- original,
- paperback,
- peculiar,
- penny dreadful,
- picaresque novel,
- picture book,
- playbook,
- pocket book,
- pornographic novel,
- prayer book,
- problem novel,
- production,
- proletarian novel,
- propaganda novel,
- psalmbook,
- psalter,
- psychological novel,
- publication,
- recent,
- regional novel,
- revolutionary,
- river novel,
- roman,
- roman a clef,
- roman-fleuve,
- romance,
- satirical novel,
- science-fiction novel,
- sentimental novel,
- serial,
- shilling shocker,
- short story,
- short-short,
- singular,
- sketchbook,
- sociological novel,
- soft-cover,
- songbook,
- special,
- standard work,
- storiette,
- story,
- storybook,
- strange,
- stream-of-consciousness novel,
- tale,
- thesis novel,
- title,
- tome,
- trade book,
- trifle,
- trinket,
- uncommon,
- unconventional,
- underived,
- unfamiliar,
- unheard-of,
- unique,
- untested,
- untried,
- unusual,
- vignette,
- volume,
- whatnot,
- work,
- writing