Although based on a Latin root, and with similar attestations in Continental French, this word (as a synonym for noefisme) is rare in Anglo-Norman and certainly not unproblematic. Firstly, the word/form ‘nofaine’ in its sole attestation in Anglo-Norman (also listed in T/L sub *novaine from the same source) is reconstructed by the editor of gaimar, replacing a very different MS reading. Ultimately that variant (along with the sense ‘group of nine’) is unattested in Anglo-Norman. Secondly, the Rot Parl¹ ii 87 citation uses the word to refer to what appears to be the ninth hour ‘in the morning’, whereas, according to medieval time-keeping, the ninth hour was noon or mid-afternoon (see none¹). Either the passage must be corrupt, or we misunderstand its exact meaning.

The modern liturgical sense of neuvaine (see TLF and DMF) as ‘novena’, i.e. a ‘devotion consisting of prayers or services on nine successive days or on the same day for nine successive weeks’, is not found in Anglo-Norman.