ENGLISH
REFERENCE

novel

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈnɑvəɫ// UK //nˈɒvəl// nov·el Archaic

n. a long story in a book that is about imaginary people and events.

n. a long, fictional narrative prose work, typically representing character and action with some degree of realism.


SIMPLE

She is reading a long novel by a famous writer.

CONTEXTUAL

The author spent three years writing her first novel before finding a publisher who believed in the story.

COMPLEX

While short stories focus on a single moment or theme, the novel allows for intricate character development and multiple subplots that span decades.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Italian novella, from Latin novella, feminine of novellus. Doublet of novella.

Etymology 3

From Middle English novel, from Old French novelle, from Latin novella, feminine of novellus.

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Latin novella, feminine of novellus.

Usage

Commonly paired with adjectives like 'historical', 'graphic', or 'debut'.

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