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.

After the solstice, daylight hours gradually increase as the Earth moves toward the vernal equinox in March. —

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024 Winter lasts from Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in the northern hemisphere until Thursday, March 20, 2025, when the vernal equinox will mark the beginning of spring. —

John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 10 Dec. 2024 The Great Sphinx of Egypt – built some 5,000 years ago – also directly faces the rising sun on the spring (vernal) and autumn equinoxes. —

New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024 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 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"