Vernal \Ver"nal\, a. [L. vernalis, fr. vernus vernal, ver spring; akin to Gr. ?, Skr. vasanta, Icel. v[=a]r, 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.
Youth and spring go together like liver and onions, but at the Masters, golf's most vernal event, youth rarely is served, except on a platter.
Leo was nearly 70; Sonya, a vernal 52.
Again the recovery proved short-lived. All the indications are that the first three months of 1994 will again give rise to more vernal optimism.