The term SUFFIX FOR NOVEL can be broken down into two crossword solutions: IST (3 letters) and ETTE (4 letters). IST is a suffix derived from the Latin word 'ista' meaning 'belonging to'. It is commonly used to denote a person or thing that is associated with a particular field or profession. For example, an artist is someone who is associated with the field of art. Similarly, an '-ist' suffix can be added to the end of a noun to denote a person who is associated with a particular field or profession. For example, a novelist is someone who is associated with the field of novel writing. ETTE is a French feminine suffix which is used to denote a female version of a noun. For example, a waitress is a female version of a waiter. In the context of novels, an '-ette' suffix can be added to the end of a noun to denote a female version of a character or protagonist.