1. A reference to being new and different, often in an interesting, unusual, or inventive way.
2. Relating to that which is strikingly new, unusual, or different; of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.

Everything at its first occurrence is considered to be new; that is, novel or which is so much out of the ordinary course of existence so as to strike people with surprise.

3. Etymology: "new, strange, unusual"; from Middle French novel, "new, fresh, recent"; from French nouveau, nouvelle; from Old French, which came from Latin novellus, "new, young, recent"; diminutive of novus "new".