novelette

[ nov-uh-let ]

noun

1. a brief novel or long short story.

novelette

/ ˌnɒvəˈlɛt /

noun

1. an extended prose narrative story or short novel
2. a novel that is regarded as being slight, trivial, or sentimental
3. a short piece of lyrical music, esp one for the piano

Word History and Origins

Origin of novelette¹

First recorded in 1805–15; novel ¹ + -ette

Example Sentences

The Tall T, from a Leonard novelette, starred Randolph Scott and Richard Boone.

From The Daily Beast

And her old aunt is a regular tartar; I dont suppose there ever was such a typical female guardian outside a penny novelette.

From Project Gutenberg

As a parody of how some quite accomplished but unsympathetic pianist performed the Novelette it was beyond all praise.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. McClure tried to beguile her into writing him a “novelette,” or a “romance of Bible times,” but Mrs. Ward was not to be moved.

From Project Gutenberg

I dream of a novel, or a novelette, to be constructed upon totally novel principles; but the outlook is not encouraging.

From Project Gutenberg

Before completing it I expect to publish a novelette, which will be dedicated to you,—if I think it worthy of you.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fiction
• narrative
• novella
• paperback
• prose
• story
• tale
• yarn