vernaladj.n.
/ˈvəːnl/, U.S. /ˈvərn(ə)l/ 1. Coming, appearing, happening, occurring, etc., in spring.
a. vernal equinox (or †equinoctial): see equinox n. 1, 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > cycle of time > cycle of the year > [noun] > equinox
evenlengtha1325
equinoctiumc1400
equinoctial?a1475
equinoction1483
vernal equinox (or equinoctial)1534
level1548
equinox1588
autumnal equinox1594
autumn equinox1594
equinoctian1627
fall equinox1844
1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1308/1 The xiiii. daye after theyr vernall Equinoctiall in the euenynge.
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises iii. i. xvi. f. 149 The beginning of Aries, which is called the vernal Equinoxe.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 299 From the vernall æquinoctiall to the summer solstice.
1696 W. Whiston New Theory of Earth i. 35 This Year 1696. the Vernal Equinox is on the 9th of March.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. ii. §31. 316 You will have the Longitude sought from the Vernal Equinox.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. 155 The tides at our vernal Equinox, in March, rise higher than those of September.
1837 D. Brewster Treat. Magnetism 216 During the three months between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice.
1868 J. N. Lockyer Elem. Lessons Astron. §171 The days and nights are equal all over the world on the 22d of March and the 22d of September, which dates are called the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
b. In general use.
ΚΠ
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 4 Such time as the Sunne is vernall, [the Island of Ferro] becomes exceeding hot and scalding.
1660 R. Sharrock Hist. Propagation & Improvem. Veg. 52 Which are generall rules for vernall and autumnall settings.
1709 T. Robinson Vindic. Mosaick Syst. 69 in Ess. Nat. Hist. Westmorland & Cumberland These Worms are..ordained for the Food of the Vernal Birds, such as the Cuckow.
1769 T. Gray Ode at Installation Duke of Grafton 61 Sweet is the breath of vernal shower.
1787 G. Winter New Syst. Husbandry 54 The vernal heat of the sun.
1820 W. Combe Second Tour Dr. Syntax xxvii. 32 'Twas as a vernal evening clos'd.
1842 J. Wilson Recreations Christopher North I. 244 The whole building is..as fresh as if just washed by a vernal shower.
1872 J. Yeats Growth Commerce 24 The Babylonian plain was subject to vernal floods.
c. Medicine. Of affections or diseases.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > characteristics > [adjective] > other characteristics
hoteOE
redeOE
foulOE
elvishc1386
dryc1400
whitec1450
Naples1507
shaking1528
cold1569
exquisite1583
unpure1583
waterish1583
wandering1585
legitimate1615
sulphureous1625
tetrous1637
cagastrical1662
medical1676
ambulatory1684
ebullient1684
frantic1709
animated1721
progressive1736
cagastric1753
vegetative1803
left-handed1804
specific1804
subacute1811
animate1816
gregarious1822
vernal1822
ambilateral1824
subchronic1831
regressive1845
nummular1866
postoperative1872
ambulant1873
non-surgical1888
progredient1891
spodogenous1897
spodogenic19..
non-invasive1932
early-onset1951
adult-onset1957
non-specific1964
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > environmental disorders > [adjective] > season
vernal1822
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. II. 108 The vernal agues generally disappear with the advance of summer.
1843 T. Watson Lect. Physic I. xl. 710 You will hear and read a good deal of vernal intermittents, and autumnal intermittents.
2. Of, pertaining or belonging to, the springtime; appropriate to the spring; spring-like:in extended use.1869 J. R. Lowell Under Willows 39 By vernal Chaucer, whose fresh woods Throb thick with merle and mavis all the year.
a. Of weather, scenery, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > year > season > [adjective] > spring
vernal1619
germinal1622
vertumnal1622
spring-like1623
springy1633
vernant1654
vernon1694
primaveral1823
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Maides Trag. i. sig. C2 We must haue none here But vernall [printed veranll] blasts and gentle winds appeare.
1634 T. Johnson tr. A. Paré Chirurg. Wks. i. xiii. 30 Such an Aire,..if it have a vernall temper, is good against all diseases.
1646 R. Crashaw Sospetto d'Herode xiv, in Steps to Temple 55 Hee saw a vernall smile, sweetly disfigure Winters sad face.
1720 Prior Truth & Falsehood 8 The purling stream, the margin green, With flowers bedeck'd, a vernal scene.
1778 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry II. 51 We fondly anticipate a long continuance of gentle gales and vernal serenity. But winter returns with redoubled horrors.
1822 W. Irving Bracebridge Hall xix It was a beautiful morning, of that soft vernal temperature, that seems to thaw all the frost out of one's blood.
1847 L. Hunt Jar of Honey (1848) ii. 23 Both heaven and hell are in it—the freshest vernal airs, with the depths of Tartarus.
1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust II. i. i. 7 The Alpine meadows, sloping vernal, A newer beam descends.
b. vernal season n. the season of spring.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring
LenteneOE
LentlOE
warea1300
verec1325
vera1382
vere-time1382
springing timea1387
springinga1398
springa1400
prime tempsa1425
the spring of the year1481
grass1485
springtime1495
prime time1503
sap-time?1523
spring tide1530
(the) spring of the leaf1538
prime1541
prime tide1549
voar1629
vernal season1644
vernal1654
outcome1672
Lent term1691
blossom-time1713
open water1759
rabi1783
budding-timea1807
ware-time1820
growing season1845
1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 7 In these vernal seasons of the yeer, when the air is calm and pleasant.
1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Ddddv/1 The Vernal Season, or the Spring, le Printems.
1806 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 15 120 In the vernal season.
1864 A. McKay Hist. Kilmarnock (ed. 3) 296 In the vernal season of the year.
c. In miscellaneous uses.
ΚΠ
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Sallet They also make an excellent Vernal Pottage.
1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 7 Whatever sweets salute the northern sky With vernal lives that blossom but to die.
1817 W. Wordsworth (title) Vernal Ode. Beneath the concave of an April sky [etc.].
1838 J. L. Stephens Incidents Trav. Greece, Turkey, Russia 67/1 Moscow seemed basking in the mild climate of Southern Asia, rioting in its brief period of vernal existence.
1885 W. Pater Marius the Epicurean I. vi. 112 A kind of mystic hymn to the vernal principle of life in things.
d. figurative. Suggestive of spring; having the mildness or freshness of spring; early, youthful.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > age > youth > [adjective] > belonging to early part of life
younger1538
springing1556
youngest1570
junior1606
vernant1793
vernal1794
in bud1847
1794 S. T. Coleridge Monody Death Chatterton (rev. ed.) in T. Chatterton Poems p. xxvii Whither are fled the charms of vernal Grace, And Joy's wild gleams, that lighten'd o'er thy face!
1805 J. Foster Ess. i. i. 11 What is become of all those vernal fancies, which had so much power to touch the heart?
1827 R. Southey Funeral Song Princess Charlotte 17 Late in beauty's vernal bloom.
1844 E. B. Browning Catarina to Camoens ii When I heard you sing that burden In my vernal days and bowers.
1898 T. Hardy Wessex Poems 100 Captain and Colonel, Sere Generals, Ensigns vernal, Were there.
3.
a. Of flowers, plants, etc.: Appearing, coming up, or blooming in spring-time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by age or cycles > [adjective] > growing at particular time of year
vernantc1440
autumnal1558
Mayey1601
solstitial1654
vernal1695
1695 Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Of Consol. Philos. iii. 121 Fading sooner than a vernal Flower!
1728 A. Pope Dunciad iii. 25 As thick as bees o'er vernal blossoms fly.
1747 W. Collins Odes 22 The Youths,..Like vernal Hyacinths in sullen Hue, At once the Breath of Fear and Virtue shedding.
1799 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 2 491 A Journal kept in Spring 1798, to record the time of flowering of several vernal plants.
1813 H. Smith & J. Smith Horace in London i. xvii. 65 The wood-nymphs crown'd with vernal flow'rs.
b. vernal grass n. one of the grasses commonly cultivated for hay.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fodder plants > [noun] > grasses used for hay or pasture
windlestrawc1000
red grass1582
spring grass1643
sweet-grass1709
herd-grass1747
Guinea grass1756
vernal grass1762
vernal1771
Paspalum1772
buffalo grass1784
Rhode Island bent1790
red-top1792
finetop1824
kangaroo-grass1827
gamagrass1831
sweet vernal grass1839
yellow-top1839
grama1844
sesame grass1845
sacate1848
Para grass1850
Hungarian1859
alfilaria1860
sacaton1865
Mitchell grass1867
teosinte1877
Landsborough grass1883
turnip-grass1889
brown top1891
ichu1891
manna1897
Rhodes grass1903
Sudan1911
Kikuyu grass1913
never-fail1923
buffel grass1955
1762 B. Stillingfleet Misc. Tracts (ed. 2) 382 I saw this spring a meadow not far from Hampstead..with some of the vernal grass and the corn brome grass.
1765 Museum Rusticum 4 428 The vernal, or spring grass, we find in the class Diandria Digynia.
1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 208 The meadow fescue..and the sweet scented vernal grass (anthoxanthum odoratum).
1802 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 8 477 The vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum, L.) which is frequently met with in hay.
1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. 489 This substance [i.e. coumarin] is found..in the sweet scented vernal grass, to which much of the fragrance of hay is owing.
c. Sown in the spring.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > sowing > [adjective] > sown > in spring
spring barley1730
vernal1792
1792 A. Young Trav. France 331 They sow here a vernal rye, which is a true spring corn, that will not succeed if sown in autumn.
4. elliptical or as n.† a. The vernal season; the spring. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > year > season > [noun] > spring
LenteneOE
LentlOE
warea1300
verec1325
vera1382
vere-time1382
springing timea1387
springinga1398
springa1400
prime tempsa1425
the spring of the year1481
grass1485
springtime1495
prime time1503
sap-time?1523
spring tide1530
(the) spring of the leaf1538
prime1541
prime tide1549
voar1629
vernal season1644
vernal1654
outcome1672
Lent term1691
blossom-time1713
open water1759
rabi1783
budding-timea1807
ware-time1820
growing season1845
1654 E. Johnson Hist. New-Eng. 106 The vernall of the yeare 1637. being now in his prime.
b. = vernal grass n. at sense 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fodder plants > [noun] > grasses used for hay or pasture
windlestrawc1000
red grass1582
spring grass1643
sweet-grass1709
herd-grass1747
Guinea grass1756
vernal grass1762
vernal1771
Paspalum1772
buffalo grass1784
Rhode Island bent1790
red-top1792
finetop1824
kangaroo-grass1827
gamagrass1831
sweet vernal grass1839
yellow-top1839
grama1844
sesame grass1845
sacate1848
Para grass1850
Hungarian1859
alfilaria1860
sacaton1865
Mitchell grass1867
teosinte1877
Landsborough grass1883
turnip-grass1889
brown top1891
ichu1891
manna1897
Rhodes grass1903
Sudan1911
Kikuyu grass1913
never-fail1923
buffel grass1955
1771 A. Young Farmer's Tour E. Eng. II. 256 The grass has consisted chiefly of the holchus,..a little meadow fox tail, and great poa:..it is remarkable that no vernal has appeared.
1834 Brit. Husbandry (Libr. Useful Knowl.) I. 514 Anthoxanthum odoratum, or sweet-scented vernal, is one of the earliest of our grasses.
1908 Animal Managem. (War Office) 114 The aroma of good hay is due to the aromatic grasses contained in it, Sweet Vernal being the variety which is mainly responsible.
c. plural. Seeds of vernal grass. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > part of > grass-seed(s)
kernelc1230
chess1562
hayseed1577
vernal1784
1784 Trans. Soc. Arts 2 60 Mix the Vernals and Hay seeds together.
Compounds
C1. In specific or popular names of flowers, plants, or grasses (see quots. and cf. spring n.1 Compounds 3e(c)(i)).
vernal crocus n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > iris and related flowers > crocus
saffronc1425
autumn crocus1629
crocusa1639
Scotch crocus1731
vernal crocus1778
saffron crocus1857
1778 Encycl. Brit. III. 2311 The varieties of the vernal crocus are, the small and large [etc.].
1882 Garden 18 Mar. 188/3 The common Vernal Crocus..is so predominant among spring flowers.
vernal cyclamen n.
vernal gentian n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Gentianaceae (gentians) > [noun]
gentianOE
fieldwooda1393
baldmoney1393
caresweeta1400
felwort1526
calathian violet1578
crosswort gentian1578
harvest-bell1597
gentianella1633
blue violet1649
marsh gentian1690
vernal gentian1728
pennywort1817
meadow pink1827
soap-gentian1845
soapwort gentian1845
autumn-bells1863
windflower1866
willow gentian1883
1728 R. Bradley Dict. Botanicum Gentianella minor Verna, the smaller Vernal Gentian.
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 282 I thought it possible that the vernal dwarf Gentian..might be our plant.
1882 Garden 18 Nov. 442/3 The lovely Vernal Gentian.
vernal purple-wood bitter vetch n.
ΚΠ
1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Orobus Vernal Purple-Wood Bitter-Vetch.
vernal sandwort n.
ΚΠ
1848 C. A. Johns Week at Lizard 303 Arenaria verna, variety Gerardi, Vernal Sandwort, is a small plant with numerous needle-like leaves, and star-like flowers of the most dazzling white.
vernal sedge n.
ΚΠ
1859 A. Pratt Brit. Grasses & Sedges 39 Order. Cyperaceæ... Vernal Sedge... A humble plant from 3–8 inches high.
vernal single n.
ΚΠ
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Cyclamen Our Botanists reckon upon several Sorts of this Plant..as the Vernal one;..another white Vernal single, and the small Purple Cyclamen.
vernal speedwell n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Scrophulariaceae (figwort and allies) > [noun] > Veronica or speedwell
lemkea1300
God's eye?a1350
waterlink?a1425
brooklimea1450
fluellin1548
Paul's betony1548
wood-penny1570
water pimpernel1575
ground-hele1578
speedwell1578
wild germander1578
germander chickweed1597
leper's herb1600
lime-wort1666
water purpy1683
water-speedwell1690
beccabunga1706
rock speedwell1719
Welsh speedwell1731
germander speedwell1732
St. Paul's betony1736
vernal speedwell1796
wall speedwell1796
cat's-eye1817
wellink1826
skull-cap1846
forget-me-not1853
veronica1855
angels' eyes1862
horse-cress1879
faverel1884
St. Paul's betony1884
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 13 Veronica verna... Vernal Speedwell.
1855 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. IV. 102 Vernal Speedwell... This very rare Speedwell..has..pale blue flowers.
vernal squill n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Liliaceae family or plants > [noun] > squill or sea-onion
onion?a1425
squillc1440
sea onion1526
squilla1526
French onion1548
scilla1629
vernal squill1796
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 338 Scilla verna... Vernal Squill. [Grows in] meadows and pastures.
1832 G. Johnston in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 1 No. 1. 10 It was..believed that the vernal squill was peculiar to the western coasts of England.
vernal stargrass n.
ΚΠ
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 5 Callitriche verna... Vernal Stargrass. Water Starwort. Water Fennel.
vernal water starwort n.
ΚΠ
1855 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. II. 296 Callitriche verna. Vernal Water Starwort.
vernal wood orobus n.
ΚΠ
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Orobus The vernal, wood orobus, with a pale red flower.
C2. vernal-bearded adj., vernal-seeming adj., vernal-tinctured adj.
ΚΠ
1744 M. Akenside Pleasures Imagination ii. 104 The melting rain~bow's vernal-tinctured hues.
1857 J. G. Whittier Last Walk in Autumn iv And that the vernal-seeming breeze Mocked faded grass and leafless trees.
1874 L. Morris Old Maytide iii Here be stalwart youths and lissome, honest-eyed and vernal bearded.
Derivatives
ˈvernally adv. rare
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > year > season > [adverb] > in or like spring
spring-like1567
vernally1727
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Vernally, according to or in the Spring of the Year.
1888 A. Ainger Let. in E. Sichel Life & Lett. A. Ainger (1906) xiii. 235 He thinks the Tweens are also vernally cleaning themselves.
Draft additions September 2017
vernal point n. Astronomy the point on the celestial equator at which it is intersected by the ecliptic and which the sun passes at the vernal equinox; = first point of Aries n. at point n.1 Phrases 5a.
ΚΠ
1550 A. Askham Treat. State & Disposition Worlde sig. A.v The vernall poynt of the equinoctiall.
1648 H. Johnsen Anti-Merlinus 33 Saturne in the figure of the Suns ingresse into the vernall point Aries, in the eighth house.
1741 Chambers's Cycl. (ed. 5) at Equinox The time when he [sc. the sun] enters the vernal point is particularly denominated the vernal, and that when he enters the autumnal point, the autumnal equinox.
1854 E. Willard Astronography x. 107 The Sun is in the Vernal Point, and since it is midnight, he is in the Meridian of our Nadir.
1994 J. North Fontana Hist. Astron. & Cosmol. iii. 37 The Earth's axis does not hold a constant orientation in space, with the result that the vernal point is moving with reference to the stars.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1534