Super Nova in M32

Is there such a thing, astronomically, as a nova?   Like maybe small, dim suns go nova.  Or maybe they are all super nova, to distinguish those exploding stars from the Chevy Nova. Could be.

Crumby needs to make a note that during one clear night last week he went out and espied the super nova in M82.  It was still visible in the CB's extremely light polluted skies on that night.  In 10" Newt at 25x  use averted vision, at 50x it's continuously visible.