"writer of novels," 1728, hybrid from novel (n.) + -ist. Influenced by Italian novellista. Earlier in English, it meant "an innovator" (1580s); "a novice" (1620s); "a news-carrier" (1706). Related: Novelistic.
Nova Scotia
novate
Novatian
novation
novel
novelist
novelize
novella
novelty
November
novena
