novel

1
[ nov-uh l ]
/ ˈnɒv əl /

noun

a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes.
(formerly) novella(def 1).

Origin of novel

1
1560–70; < Italian novella ( storia) new kind of story. See novel2

OTHER WORDS FROM novel

nov·el·like, adjective

Words nearby novel

novara, novated lease, novation, novato, novaya zemlya, novel, novel coronavirus, novelese, novelette, novelettish, novelist

Definition for novels (2 of 2)

novel 3
[ nov-uh l ]
/ ˈnɒv əl /

noun

Roman Law.
  1. an imperial enactment subsequent and supplementary to an imperial compilation and codification of authoritative legal materials.
  2. Usually Novels, imperial enactments subsequent to the promulgation of Justinian's Code and supplementary to it: one of the four divisions of the Corpus Juris Civilis.
Civil Law. an amendment to a statute.

Origin of novel

3
1605–15; < Late Latin novella ( constitūtiō) a new (regulation, order). See novel2

Words related to novels

different, unusual, offbeat, strange, innovative, unique, odd, peculiar, story, yarn, fiction, tale, narrative, prose, paperback, novella, avant-garde, now, contemporary, singular

Example sentences from the Web for novels

British Dictionary definitions for novels (1 of 4)

Novels
/ (ˈnɒvəlz) /

pl n

Roman law the new statutes of Justinian and succeeding emperors supplementing the Institutes, Digest, and Code: now forming part of the Corpus Juris Civilis

Word Origin for Novels

Latin Novellae ( constitūtiōnēs) new (laws)

British Dictionary definitions for novels (2 of 4)

novel 1
/ (ˈnɒvəl) /

noun

an extended work in prose, either fictitious or partly so, dealing with character, action, thought, etc, esp in the form of a story
the novel the literary genre represented by novels
(usually plural) obsolete a short story or novella, as one of those in the Decameron of Boccaccio

Word Origin for novel

C15: from Old French novelle, from Latin novella ( narrātiō) new (story); see novel ²

British Dictionary definitions for novels (3 of 4)

novel 2
/ (ˈnɒvəl) /

adjective

of a kind not seen before; fresh; new; original a novel suggestion

Word Origin for novel

C15: from Latin novellus new, diminutive of novus new

British Dictionary definitions for novels (4 of 4)

novel 3
/ (ˈnɒvəl) /

noun

Roman law a new decree or an amendment to an existing statute See also Novels

Cultural definitions for novels

novel

A long, fictional narration in prose. Great Expectations and Huckleberry Finn are novels, as are War and Peace and Lord of the Flies.