novum

noun novums · nova

1. countable, uncountable A new feature, a novelty. we find among the cultured devotees a tendency to idealize a foreign civilisation — a novum in Chinese history.
2. countable, uncountable An innovation which is fictional, but, following the logic of cognitive estrangement (characteristic of science fiction), is afforded plausibility by the assumption that the fictional setting is scientifically consistent. In his book Metamorphoses of Science Fiction (1979), Suvin introduced a number of ideas that remain central in sf criticism: cognitive estrangement, the novum and sf's genetic link with utopia.[…]Even more influential in sf theory than cognitive estrangement is Suvin's concept of the novum.[…]Suvin
3. obsolete, uncountable A game of dice, properly called novem quinque, the two principal throws being nine and five. Abate throw at novum, and the whole world again Cannot pick out five such, take each one in his vein.