Ver"nal (?), a. [L. vernalis, fr. vernus vernal, ver spring; akin to Gr. &?;, Skr.
vasanta, Icel. vār, and E. Easter, east.]
1. Of or
pertaining to the spring; appearing in the spring; as, vernal bloom.
2. Fig.: Belonging to youth, the
spring of life.
When after the long vernal day of life.
Thomson. And seems it hard thy
vernal years
Few
vernal joys can show?
Keble. Vernal equinox (Astron.), the time when
the sun crosses the equator when proceeding northward. -- 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.
Hear it pronounced