from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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]