vernal

/ˈvʌrnl/

/ˈvʌnəl/

Other forms: vernally

If you enjoy the vernal lushness of the landscape, that’s a kind of fancy way to say you like the way nature looks in the springtime.

The word vernal entered English in the sixteenth century, tracing all the way back to the Latin word ver, meaning spring. Use the adjective vernal to describe something that occurs in springtime or is related to springtime. You might be familiar with the vernal equinox, which indicates the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The word vernal can also be used more broadly to describe something youthful or fresh — springlike.

Definitions of vernal

1. adjective

   suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
   synonyms: young, youthful

   immature, young

   (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
2. adjective

   of or characteristic of or occurring in spring
   “the vernal equinox”

   synonyms:

   early-blooming, early-flowering, late-spring-blooming, spring-blooming, spring-flowering

   of plants that bloom during the spring

   antonyms:

   summery

   belonging to or characteristic of or occurring in summer

   autumnal

   of or characteristic of or occurring in the fall

   wintry

   characteristic of or occurring in winter

   aestival, estival

   of or occurring in summer

   summer-blooming, summer-flowering

   of plants that bloom during the summer

   autumn-blooming, autumn-flowering, fall-blooming, fall-flowering, late-blooming, late-flowering

   of plants that bloom during the autumn

   late-ripening

   of plants that ripen in the fall

   brumal, hibernal, hiemal

   characteristic of or relating to winter

   winter-blooming, winter-flowering

   of plants that bloom during the winter