Novus, -a, -um, adj. "New, strange, unusual, extraordinary; a novelty, a revolution."

Novus, -a, -um, adj. "New, strange, unusual, extraordinary; a novelty, a revolution."

I. WHAT THE DICTIONARIES SAY:

A. From The Latin Dictionary:

  Translation: New, strange

B. From William Whitaker's Words (Notre Dame site):

nov.us               ADJ    1 1 NOM S M POS             
novus, nova -um, novior -or -us, novissimus -a -um  ADJ   [XXXAX]  new, fresh, young; unusual, extraordinary; (novae res, f. pl. = revolu- tion).

C. From Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid (Notre Dame site):

novus -a -um [new , fresh, young; fresh, inexperienced; revived, refreshed; novel, unusual, extraordinary]; 'novus homo', [the first of a family to hold curule office]; 'novae res', [political changes, a revolution]; 'novae tabulae', [new account books (i.e. a cancellation of debts)]; N. as subst., [a new thing, news, a novelty]. Adv. nove, [in a new or unusual way]. Superl. novissimus -a -um, [latest, last, extreme]; 'agmen', [the rear]; adv. novissime, [lately, lastly, in the last place].

II. APPLICATION: So, perhaps we can translate novus ordo Missae as "the strange order of Mass," "the unusual order of Mass," "the novel order of Mass," "the revolutionary order of Mass, or, better yet, "the extraordinary order of Mass." It appears that any of these would be a more fitting, and still perfectly correct translation... especially if we abide by CIEL's principles!