nov

The Latin root word nov means “new.” Here’s to a fresh beginning in this novel or “new” year!

So, what exactly will you do in this “new” or novel year? Perhaps you will begin on a novel, a form of writing which at base means a “new” prose story? Something not quite as ambitious would be writing a novella, or short novel.

Perhaps you will come up with an innovation, or the act of making a thoroughly “new” thing which will make millions for you? All you have to do to innovate is come up with some novelty, or “new” item which is original and/or unusual that everyone wants to buy—simple, right?

Perhaps your New Year’s resolutions will include renovating your house by making it seem “new” again, or at least your dog’s house? Maybe your cat’s? Or perhaps it will include a trip to Nova Scotia, or “New” Scotland, to visit the relatives you’ve been meaning to visit for so many years now?

If you’re an amateur astronomer, and a lucky one at that, you may be the first to observe a nova, short for the Latin stella nova, or “new star.” A nova is a star which suddenly increases in brightness by a factor of many thousands, and thus “newly” appears to the casual observer in the heavens. A supernova, on the other hand, is a star which explodes, and so creates a “new” star that is very bright in appearance until it runs out of fuel.

Or perhaps you will become a novice in a “new” pursuit, such as a hobby or sport “new” to you? Then again, you could go much further and make a whole life change by becoming a novitiate, or one who is “new” to a religious order, such as studying to become a nun or monk.

Maybe you will win the lottery and become a member of the nouveau riche, or “newly” rich! If so, you will often see the Latin phrase novus ordo saeclorum, or “new order of the ages,” which appears at the base of the pyramid on the reverse side of all those dollar bills that you will have won!

Now, just so our sun doesn’t turn into a nova or supernova, enjoy the beginning of this novel year, since, after all, it will be only “new” once!

1. novel: “new” (adj.)
2. novel: a “new” prose story (n.)
3. novella: a short “novel”
4. innovation: act of making something “new”
5. innovate: to make something “new”
6. novelty: a “new” item
7. renovate: to make “new” again
8. Nova Scotia: “New” Scotland
9. nova: a star which “newly” appears in the sky
10. supernova: an exploding star which “newly” appears in the sky
11. novice: a person “new” to something
12. novitiate: a person “new” to a religious order
13. nouveau: French adjective for “new”
14. novus ordo saeclorum: Latin for “new” order of the ages