Vernal
adjective /ˈvɜːn(ə)l/ — Of or relating to spring — fresh, new, youthful.
Definition
Of, in, or appropriate to spring; suggesting the freshness or newness of spring; having the vitality associated with the renewal that spring represents.
Beyond the definition
Vernal carries all the freight of spring — the relief at the end of winter, the particular green of the first growth, the restlessness of renewed possibility. To call something vernal is to attribute to it the quality of beginnings: fresh, slightly naive, full of the potential that has not yet been tested.
Origin & history
From Latin vernalis, from vernus (of spring), from ver (spring). Used in English since the 16th century in scientific and poetic contexts — the vernal equinox, the vernal season.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The garden had a vernal quality even in August — she tended it so well it never seemed to age.
He arrived with a vernal energy that made everyone else feel slightly tired by comparison.
The first vernal warmth after a hard winter has a quality of relief that milder climates never produce.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Vernal” when the meaning fits your context: Of, in, or appropriate to spring; suggesting the freshness or newness of spring; having the vitality associated with the renewal that spring represents.
Synonyms
spring-like, fresh, youthful, new
Antonyms
autumnal, wintry, aged
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Vernal" mean?
Vernal is adjective meaning: Of or relating to spring — fresh, new, youthful.. Of, in, or appropriate to spring; suggesting the freshness or newness of spring; having the vitality associated with the renewal that spring represents.
Where does the word "Vernal" come from?
From Latin vernalis, from vernus (of spring), from ver (spring). Used in English since the 16th century in scientific and poetic contexts — the vernal equinox, the vernal season.