Library / English Dictionary

NOVELTY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing

Synonyms:

bangle; bauble; fallal; gaud; gewgaw; novelty; trinket

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("novelty" is a kind of...):

adornment (a decoration of color or interest that is added to relieve plainness)

Holonyms ("novelty" is a member of...):

trinketry (trinkets and other ornaments of dress collectively)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A small inexpensive mass-produced article

Synonyms:

knickknack; novelty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("novelty" is a kind of...):

article (one of a class of artifacts)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Originality by virtue of being refreshingly novel

Synonyms:

freshness; novelty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("novelty" is a kind of...):

originality (the quality of being new and original (not derived from something else))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Originality by virtue of being new and surprising

Synonyms:

freshness; novelty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("novelty" is a kind of...):

originality (the ability to think and act independently)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Still some novelty was necessary, to give to their return the piquancy with which I wished it to be invested.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

There was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, from its very novelty, incredibly sweet.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Though the novelty had not yet worn off, the peaceful comportment of the seals had quieted my alarm.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

This charming sentiment, recommended as much by sense as novelty, gave Catherine a most pleasing remembrance of all the heroines of her acquaintance; and she thought her friend never looked more lovely than in uttering the grand idea.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The insipidity of the meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected; it produced not one novelty of thought or expression, and nothing could be less interesting than the whole of their discourse both in the dining parlour and drawing room: to the latter, the children accompanied them, and while they remained there, she was too well convinced of the impossibility of engaging Lucy's attention to attempt it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“As long as the novelty should last,” said I, laughing.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The first event of any importance in the family was the death of Mr. Norris, which happened when Fanny was about fifteen, and necessarily introduced alterations and novelties.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

So it was that she looked upon Martin Eden as a novelty, a strange individual, and she identified with novelty and strangeness the effects he produced upon her.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

No such importation of novelties could enrich their intellectual stores at present.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)