01 a. Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.
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1.
Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.
Phrases & compounds
Novel assignment —
a new assignment or specification of a suit.
Syn.
New; recent; modern; fresh; strange; uncommon; rare; unusual.
-- 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.