Etymograph

English

vernal

Vernal comes from Latin vernālis ‘(rare) of or pertaining to spring’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wósr̥‘spring’reconstructed
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvērnus‘of or pertaining to spring’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEvernālis‘(rare) of or pertaining to spring’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1633vernal

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wósr̥‘spring’reconstructed
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvērnus‘of or pertaining to spring’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEvernālis‘(rare) of or pertaining to spring’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1633vernal

Earliest quotation: 1633, Thomas Bancroft, Bancroft, (Thomas.)—The Glvttons Feauer. […] 1633.: “For as a vernall Larke, but lately drest /…”

The story

Vērnus is derived from vēr (‘season of spring’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥ (‘spring’)) + -nus (suffix forming adjectives). The English word is cognate with Old French vernal (modern French vernal), Italian vernale (‘pertaining to spring; vernal’), Occitan vernal, Portuguese vernal (‘pertaining to spring; vernal’), Spanish vernal (‘pertaining to spring; vernal’).

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥ ‘spring’

ware, primavera, 3 more

Today it means

adj Pertaining to or occurring in spring.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥ / vernal

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