English
nova
Nova comes from Latin novus ‘new’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *nu ‘now’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nu‘now’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*néwos‘new’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*nowos‘new’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnovus‘new’
- Englishearliest quotation 2024nova
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nu‘now’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*néwos‘new’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*nowos‘new’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnovus‘new’
- Englishearliest quotation 2024nova
Earliest quotation: 2024, Ashley Strickland: “In these stellar pairings, if the two stars are…”
first attested The feminine is used since stella (“star”) is feminine; thus nova is a shortening of nova stella (“new star”), first used in this sense in 1573 by Tycho Brahe (as stated in the etymology)
The story
The feminine is used since stella (‘star’) is feminine; thus nova is a shortening of nova stella (‘new star’), first used in this sense in 1573 by Tycho Brahe.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *nu ‘now’
through Proto-Indo-European *néwos ‘new’
new, newly, newer, innovation, neon, renovation, newness, innovate, innovator, renovate, 11 more
through Proto-Italic *nowos ‘new’
through Latin novus ‘new’
Today it means
noun Any sudden brightening of a previously inconspicuous star.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *nu / nova