Early — novel (8)
I believe the answer is:
original
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">This clue is a double definition.<br/ ><br/ >'<span class="explanation-format__original">early</span>' is the first definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(similar in meaning)</span><br/ ><br/ >'<span class="explanation-format__original">novel</span>' is the second definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(similar in meaning)</span><br/ ><br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for original that I've seen before include "Never seen or performed before" , "From which a copy is made" , "Not derived or copied form something else" , "In first form" , "derivation" .)