novitatio

Novitatio is a Latin noun meaning novelty or the act of making something new. It derives from novus, “new,” and appears in classical and medieval Latin texts to denote newness in various contexts, such as ideas, arguments, practices, or phenomena.

Historically, novitatio is used to describe the introduction of a new element within a discourse, debate, or field of study. In scholarly and rhetorical literature, the term can denote the appearance of a novel proposition or approach that challenges established norms. It is commonly found alongside related terms such as novitas (newness) and is typically rendered in English as novelty or the act of introducing something new when discussing Latin sources.

In modern usage, novitatio is primarily encountered in the study of Latin language and literature, rhetoric, theology, and philosophy. Outside of Latin contexts, scholars usually render the concept as novelty or newness, focusing on the role of new ideas, methods, or principles in argumentation and inquiry. The term thus serves as a historical label for the process and impact of bringing something new into a tradition or discourse.

Overall, novitatio captures the idea of introducing or emphasizing newness, a notion that has been important across disciplines for assessing innovation, persuasion, and change within established frameworks. See also novelty, novitas.