vernal

adjective

ver·​nal ˈvər-nᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or occurring in the spring

vernal equinox

vernal sunshine

2

: 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

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

In late March, the vernal equinox marks the first day of spring. —Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2024

The worm moon is the lunation that occurs close to the vernal equinox and marks the beginning of a new season and the coming of the warmer months when the snow on the ground begins to melt, and worms are seen in the soil. —Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 25 Mar. 2024

In the case of spring, the season will start with the spring, or vernal, equinox. —Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024

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"

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

vernal

adjective

ver·​nal ˈvərn-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or occurring in the spring

the vernal equinox