novennial

[Lat. novennis, from novem = nine, and ann us a year.] Happening or recurring every ninth year. "A novennial festival celebrated by the Bœotians in honor of Apollo." -Potter : Antiq . of Greece , bk. ii., ch. xx nō-ver-cal, a. [Lat. novercal is , from noverca =a stepmother.] Of or pertaining to a stepmother; suitable to, becoming, or characteristic of a step mother. "It is a wonderful deviation that some few families should do it in a more novercal way."-Derham: Phys i coT he ology, bk. vii., ch. iv.