novel
n. · adj.-
1 fiction book (n.) A2 Elementarya long story about imaginary people and events, usually printed as a book.
a fictional narrative in prose of considerable length, typically having a complex plot and character development.
ExampleShe spent the whole weekend reading a mystery novel by her favourite author.
ExampleThe author's debut novel received critical acclaim for its intricate structure and its nuanced exploration of historical trauma.
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2 new and original (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediatenew and different from anything that has been seen or done before.
original or strikingly new in nature; having no precedent.
ExampleThe company came up with a novel way to recycle plastic bottles into clothing.
ExampleThe researchers proposed a novel hypothesis that challenged decades of established thinking in the field of molecular biology.
- traditional
- common
- hackneyed
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3 legal decree (n.) C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Lawa new law or rule added to an existing collection of laws.
a new legal constitution or decree, particularly those issued by Byzantine emperors after the initial codification of Roman law.
ExampleThe professor explained how the new Novel changed the inheritance laws of the time.
ExampleThe Justinian Code was supplemented by several Novellae, which addressed emerging administrative challenges within the empire.
UsageUsually capitalized when referring to specific Roman or Byzantine legal collections.
From Middle English novel, from Old French novel (“new, fresh, recent, recently made or done, strange, rare”) (modern nouvel, nouveau), from Latin novellus (“new, fresh, young, modern”), diminutive of novus (“new”). Doublet of nouveau.
Borrowed from Italian novella, from Latin novella, feminine of novellus. Doublet of novella.
From Middle English novel, from Old French novelle, from Latin novella, feminine of novellus.
Borrowed from Latin novella, feminine of novellus.
- Nounnovel
- Nounnovelist