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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Novelte(e, -tie, n. Also: novell-, novil-, noval-, nowal- and -ty. [ME. novelte(e (Wyclif, Chaucer, etc.), e.m.E. noveltie, -ty, OF. novelté (mod. F. nouveauté). Cf. also Novellité.]In senses 2, 3 and 4 b very common in Winȝet's transl. of Vincentius Lirinensis (Winȝet II.).

1. The quality of being novel or new; that which is novel, new or different from what has gone before.Also, novelty in this sense as a source of interest or amusement. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 910.
The king in nothing occupeit suld be Bot in gret caus of all noueltie 1490 Irland Mir. I. 130/9.
For that state and age betakynnis nouelte with perfeccioune a1500 K. Hart 83.
This cumlie court … That noy hes none bot newlie novaltee a1500 Bk. Chess 197.
For euery man desyris naturally To leir & knaw & heir of novelte 1535 Stewart 35794.
All seik men hes are vse and consuetude To seik all thing tha trow ma do thame gude … Of noveltie tha haif so greit desyre 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9388.
On the morne Lodwik with noueltie Past to the kirk in greit solempnitie 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 59.
The greit and small ordinance … was for noviltie schot … in presens of the … ambassatouris

2. The newness or recentness of a thing; the unprecedented, unusual or extraordinary character of something. 1513 Doug. i. viii. 122.
Ane hard myschans and novelte of this ryng [L. regni novitas] Constrenys me sic mastry forto schaw 1562-3 Winȝet II. 25/17.
Quhen heirfor on alsydis thai cryit out al on the noueltie of the mater Ib. 73/21.
Or out of the religioun of antiquitie we be wappit heidlingis in the noueltie of hæreseis 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II. 121.
Throw the noveltie of thair monstruous and disperat doingis a1578 Pitsc. I. 67/15.
He … tuike great feir of the novelltie of sic thingis wnknawin befoir 1616 Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. IV. 136.
Treatises clearly declaring the noueltie of popish religion c 1620 Crim. Trials I. i. 197.
In consideratioun of … the novaltie of the cryme 1639 Dunkeld Presb. I. 376.

3. Change or departure from what is established, regarded as undesirable or erroneous, esp. in religious doctrine or practice, also in legal procedure; innovation. 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 345 b.
All nouelte we suld enchew als fere as we may gudlie 1535 Stewart 25202.
The Britis war of so grit vanitie That … thai louit noveltie And reddie ay thair awin faith to refus 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 174/12.
Novelte 1562-3 Winȝet II. 22/18.
Throw the haitrent of noueltie and luue of antiquitie we imaginat thir thingis Ib. 29/14.
The Galathianis … with the filthynes of hæretical noueltie wes defylit Ib. 55/9.
Noweltie 1563 Ferg. Answer 18.
As to your sclandring with noualtie our faith and doctrine 1585 Acts III. 377/2.
That nane … writt or put in forme onie … lettre … that contenis nowaltie or informalitie contrair the … accustumat style & forme

4. An instance of novelty or of innovation.a. An interesting or amusing new thing. b. A (chiefly undesirable or erroneous) change, esp. in religious doctrine or practice or in legal procedure.a. 15.. Clar. iv. 1575.
The King … said, ‘Fair siris, fresch and amorus, Ȝe have conseillit fra me this noveltie, Ȝe beine all lustie dansers as thinkis me’ 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 10.
I aucht, of bound dewtie, To dedicat to him sum noueltieplur. 1513 Doug. i. vii. 58.
In this tempill seir novelteis first Schawin till Eneas mesyt gretly hys feir 1632 Lithgow Trav. 386.b. 1496 Acts II. 238/1.
plur. In purchessing and inbringing of nouelteis and innouatiouns in the Kirk 1498 Acta Conc. II. 288. 1514 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 26.
Bot divers novelteis daily be thame attemptit 1562-3 Winȝet II. 56/6. Ib. 54/22.
Eschewand the prophane nouelteis of woices 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 93/2.
Ever ueariing of the present estaite & desyrouse of nouelteis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 201.
The authors and inventers of alteratioun or novalteis tending to the disturbing of our estaitsing. (1) 1562-3 Winȝet II. 22/11. Ib. 53/5.
Quhen the weill foundit antiquitie for a cursit noueltie is ouerquhelmit Ib. 70/12. 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 693.
Ony noveltie in the state 1588 King Cat. 58.
Fra this profane noueltie … effrayis vs the apostolique … doctrine(2) 1580 Conv. Burghs I. 105.
Be the littistaris … seking … dekynis to be granted to thame … quhilk is ane noualtie 1583 Digest Justiciary Proc. K. 39.
Quhilk affieiris ane greit noveltie far by the accustumat ordour of heid court 1605 Elphinstone Mun. 34.
Noualtie 1610 Highland P. III. 120. 1668 Brown Suppl. Dict. Decis. II. 436. 1687 Ib. iii.
It is a novelty, and of a dangerous consequence, to reduce the verdict of a criminal assize

5. plur. New events, as reported; tidings, news. = Novellis n. pl. 1. 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 309.
At come with nouelteis of Yngland to the Kingis grace 1515 Ib. V. 31. Ib. 47.
To gar mak beil fyris … for novelteis of the triumph the King of France gat in Lumbardy 15.. Clar. v. 2961.
And schew to hir the novelties of France