vernal

adjective

ver·nal ˈvər-nᵊl

Synonyms of vernal next

: of, relating to, or occurring in the spring

vernal equinox

vernal sunshine

: fresh or new like the spring

also : youthful

vernally

ˈvər-nᵊl-ē

adverb

Did you know?

If you want to sound sophisticated this spring, you can do what various learned individuals have done since the 16th century and refer to the spring equinox as the vernal equinox. You might also alter a classic rhyme to chant "Vernal showers bring May flowers." Or if you really want to wax poetic, you could compliment your lass's vernal grace or your beau's vernal charm. If you do, and your sweetheart asks where such a word comes from, you can further impress by saying, "'Vernal,' my dear, comes from the Latin 'vernalis,' which is derived from the Latin word for spring, 'ver.'"

Examples of vernal in a Sentence

trees and flowers in vernal bloom

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Winter extends from the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – to the vernal equinox, the start of spring. —

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024 Winter ends on Thursday, March 20, 2025, once the vernal equinox (Spring Equinox) begins. —

Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 8 Nov. 2024 The other equinox occurs in the spring and is called the vernal equinox. —

Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 26 Aug. 2024 Berger also pledged that Players Era’s grand ambitions for the future would not come into conflict with the NCAA’s vernal meal ticket. —

Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for vernal

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin vernālis, from vernus "of spring" (going back to pre-Latin *u̯esri-no-, adjective derivative from the base of Latin vēr "spring") + -ālis -al entry 1; vēr "spring," going back to Indo-European *u̯ḗs-r̥-, *u̯es-n̥-s, whence also Old Norse vár "spring," Old Frisian wars, wērs, Welsh gwanwyn (Old Welsh guiannuin, from British Celtic *u̯esantēno-), Middle Irish errach (probably from *u̯esrāko-, with generalization of the lenited initial consonant), Old Church Slavic vesna, Russian vesná, Lithuanian vãsara "summer," Greek éar "spring" (from *u̯ehar, from *u̯esr̥), Armenian garun (gar- from *gehar-, from *u̯esr̥- + a suffix), Sanskrit vasantá-, Avestan vaŋri (locative) "in the spring"