novella

noun

no·​vel·​la nō-ˈve-lə How to pronounce novella (audio)
plural novellas or novelle nō-ˈve-lē How to pronounce novella (audio)
1
plural novelle : a story with a compact and pointed plot
2
plural novellas : a work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel

Examples of novella in a Sentence

pressed for time, many English teachers have their students read the one novella among the novelist's works
Recent Examples on the Web Zweig was a versatile writer, producing biographies, essays, plays, poems, short stories, novellas — an opera libretto for Richard Strauss (Die schweigsame Frau). Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 30 Sep. 2024 In a letter to the judge, Ellison’s mother, professor Sara Fisher Ellison, wrote that Ellison has completed a romantic novella and is already at work on a follow-up. Jane Thier, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2024 Based on a novella from Stephen King, the film unspools across three chapters in the life of an ordinary man. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Sep. 2024 More recent commentators have been more favorable and sometimes even prefer the movie to Twain's novella. arkansasonline.com, 3 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for novella 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'novella.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "piece of news, announcement, story, narrative," noun derivative from feminine of novello "new," going back to Latin novellus "young, tender (of plants or animals)," from novus "new" + -ellus, diminutive suffix — more at new entry 1

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of novella was in 1677

Dictionary Entries Near novella

Cite this Entry

“Novella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/novella. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

novella

noun
no·​vel·​la nō-ˈvel-ə How to pronounce novella (audio)
: a work of fiction falling between a short story and a novel in length and complexity

More from Merriam-Webster on novella

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