nov
nɑːv
Why a novel and a renovation share one root
The picture Something never used before set down for the first time in the place of the old. nov is whether it is new; ver is whether it is true.
Where the picture shows up in nov
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Just arrived at the work
It is my first week, so I am a novice.
ɪt ɪz maɪ fɜːrst wiːk soʊ aɪ æm ə ˈnɑːvɪs
It's my first week, so I'm still new.
Somebody whose work clothes are not even creased yet, looking around for where to stand.
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Making the old new again
They are renovating the lobby this month.
ðeɪ ɑːr ˈrɛnəveɪtɪŋ ðə ˈlɑːbi ðɪs mʌnθ
They're redoing the lobby this month.
Old wallpaper stripped off and new paper going up until the same room reads as a new one.
re- means again — made new again is renovate.
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Bringing in what was never there
The company wants more innovation this year.
ðə ˈkʌmpəni wɑːnts mɔːr ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən ðɪs jɪr
The company wants more new ideas this year.
One tool nobody has used before pushed in among the tools always on the bench.
in- means into: newness brought inside is innovation.
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A story made up new
Have you read her new novel yet?
hæv juː rɛd hɜːr nuː ˈnɑːvl jɛt
Have you read her new book yet?
People and events that never existed coming into being for the first time inside one book.
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Saying it is new to us
There is nothing novel about this model.
ðɛr ɪz ˈnʌθɪŋ ˈnɑːvl əˈbaʊt ðɪs ˈmɑːdl
There's nothing new about this model.
A new product turned this way and that, showing only shapes already seen.
All of it in one picture
nov is one piece of newness. Somebody who has just come to the work is a novice; make the worn-out thing new again and you renovate it. Bring in what was never there and it is innovation; a long story made up new is a novel, and anything nobody has seen before is novel. So when you see nov, picture the brand-new thing.