nŏvĭtas, ātis, f. [novus], 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, i. e. the spring , Ov. F. 1, 160.—Adverb.: AD NOVITATEM, anew, newly , 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, this novel attempt , 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.