Nouvelle

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A brief fictional narrative often featured in magazines or periodicals that explores a concept or theme
2. A short story that usually highlights a single incident or character, showcasing a concise and impactful narrative style
3. A narrative form that focuses on brevity and intensity, presenting a complete tale with depth in a limited space

Etymology: Its root is the Latin "novella," the plural of "novellus," meaning "new things." French kept that sense in its everyday word for news, and the literary sense came through Italy. Boccaccio called the stories in his "Decameron" "novelle," each a self-contained tale rather than a long chronicle. French writers later adopted the idea and the term. In French, the form sits between the short story and the novel. It is longer than a sketch yet tighter than a full book, usually built around a single situation, a few characters, and a turn that arrives near the end.