novitas, ātis, f. novus, a being new, newness, novelty. 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.

— In partic. 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.

— 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.

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