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vernal: msg#00019

culture.language.word-of-the-day

Subject: vernal

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The Word of the Day for March 20 is:

vernal \VER-nul\ adjective
*1 : of, relating to, or occurring in the spring
2 : fresh or new like the spring; also : youthful

Example sentence:
"The stream began to murmur by the door, and the fragrance
of growing herbs and flowers came softly on the vernal breeze."
(Mark Twain, _Life on the Mississippi_)

Did you know?
If you want to sound sophisticated this spring, you can do
what various learned individuals have done since the 16th
century and refer to the spring equinox as the vernal equinox.
You might also say that it is not April showers but vernal
showers that bring May flowers (with help from the vernal sun,
of course). And if you really want to wax poetic, you might
compliment your lass's vernal grace or your beau's vernal
charm. If you do, and your sweetheart asks where such a word
comes from, you can further impress by saying, "'Vernal,' my
dear, comes from the Latin 'vernalis,' which is derived from
the Latin word for spring, 'ver.'"

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.






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