GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   vernal , a. [L. vernalis, fr. vernus vernal, ver spring; akin to Gr. ἔαρ, Skr. vasanta, Icel. vār, and E. Easter, east.]
   Of or pertaining to the spring; appearing in the spring; as, vernal bloom.
   1913 Webster
   And purple all the ground with vernal flowers.
   Milton.
   
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   Fig.: Belonging to youth, the spring of life.
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   When after the long vernal day of life.
   Thomson.
   
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   And seems it hard thy vernal years
   Few vernal joys can show?
   Keble.
   
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   Vernal equinox (Astron.), the point of time in each year when the sun crosses the equator when proceeding northward, about March 21, when day and night are of approximately equal duration.  The beginning of the Spring season. -- Vernal grass (Bot.), a low, soft grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), producing in the spring narrow spikelike panicles, and noted for the delicious fragrance which it gives to new-mown hay; -- also called sweet vernal grass.  See Illust. in Appendix. -- Vernal signs (Astron.), the signs, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, in which the sun appears between the vernal equinox and summer solstice.
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