Nouvelle

/nuˈvɛl/ adjective

Definition

French word meaning 'new,' often used in English in phrases like 'nouvelle cuisine' to denote a modern, innovative style.

Etymology

From French 'nouvelle,' feminine form of 'nouveau' meaning 'new,' from Latin 'novellus' (diminutive of 'novus'). Entered English through culinary and artistic terminology in the 20th century.

Kelly Says

Nouvelle cuisine revolutionized cooking by emphasizing fresh ingredients and artistic presentation over heavy sauces, but the term 'nouvelle' appears in many fields - nouvelle vague in film, nouvelle fiction in literature - always signaling a break from tradition.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.