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vernal: msg#00019culture.language.word-of-the-day
**************************************************************** No need to catch a leprechaun--enjoy a treasure trove of language with a subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged! http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/unabridged_sub.pl?refr=U_wod **************************************************************** 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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