The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.
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.
Novel assignment (Law), a new assignment or specification of a suit.
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.
Usage examples of "novel assignment".
We assume that you are the creator of the new surface forms, and we do not blame you for accepting a new and novel assignment in your chosen field.