novel

Where does the word "novel" come from? It comes from Latin novus, passing through Italian before entering English (1560s).

Novel’s story begins in Latin: novus meant “new.” The root of 'novice', 'innovate' and 'renovate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as novella. A new little story, from novus (new). It reached English by 1560s as novel. Settled as the English word for a long fictional story, or something new and original. Today, novel means a long fictional story published as a book, or something new and original.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient novus "new", the root of 'novice', 'innovate' and 'renovate'.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval novella "a new little story", a new little story, from novus (new).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s novel "a long fictional story, or something new and original", settled as the English word for a long fictional story, or something new and original.