nov·el 1 
(nŏvəl)
(nŏvəl)n.
1. A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.
2. The literary genre represented by novels.
[Ultimately from Old Italian novella, piece of news, chit-chat, tale, novella, from Vulgar Latin *novella, from neuter pl. of Latin novellus, diminutive of novus, new; see newo- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]