nŏvĭtas

I. a being new, newness, novelty.

I. In gen.: rei novitas, Cic. Div. 2, 28, 60: gratiam novitati similem parant, Quint. 1, 6, 39: novitatis gratiā, id. 9, 3, 58: plus novitatis, id. 8, 3, 74: (figura) ipsā novitate ac varietate magis delectat, id. 9, 2. 66.—In plur., new acquaintances, friendships: novitates, si spem afferunt, non sunt illae quidem repudiandae, vetustas tamen loco suo conservanda, Cic. Lael. 19, 68.—Poet.: anni, Ov. F. 1, 160.—Adverb.: AD NOVITATEM, Inscr. Orell. 3278.—

II. In partic.

A. Rareness, strangeness, unusualness: sceleris atque periculi novitas, Sall. C. 4, 4: perturbatis nostris novitate pugnae, Caes. B. G. 4, 34: rerum, Ov. M. 2, 31: adjuta est novitas numine nostra dei, id. P. 4, 13, 24; so in plur., Inscr. Grut. 337.—

B. The condition of a homo novus, newness of rank: novitas mea, Cic. Fam. 1, 7, 8: contemnunt novitatem meam, ego illorum ignaviam, Sall. J. 85, 14 (shortly before: comparate hunc cum illorum superbiā me hominem novum): quibus novitas familiae haud obstitit, Vell. 2, 127, 1.—

III. Trop., newness, reformation. In eccl. Lat.: in novitate vitae, Vulg. Rom. 6, 4.