different between vernal vs venal

English

Etymology

From Latin vern?lis (“(rare) of or pertaining to spring; vernal”), from v?rnus (“of or pertaining to spring; vernal”) + -?lis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship). V?rnus is derived from v?r (“season of spring”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wósr? (“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”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?v??n(?)l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?v?n?l/
• Rhymes: -??(?)n?l
• Hyphenation: vern?al

Adjective

vernal (comparative more vernal, superlative most vernal) (formal, literary)

1. Pertaining to or occurring in spring. [from mid 16th c.]

   Synonyms: springlike, spring-like; (rare) springly
2. (figuratively) Having characteristics like spring; fresh, young, youthful.

Usage notes

Vernal is used mostly in technical contexts (as in e.g. vernal equinox) or poetic contexts. In everyday language, attributive use of spring predominates, as in spring colors, spring flowers, spring equinox.

Alternative forms

• vernall (obsolete)

Coordinate terms

• (pertaining to seasons): summer: aestival/estival, summery · autumn or fall: autumnal · winter: brumal, hibernal, wintry

Derived terms

Related terms

• primavera
• ver (“springtime”) (obsolete)
• vere, vere-time (“springtime”) (obsolete)

Translations

References

Further reading

• vernal (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “vernal”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• Lavern, nerval, verlan

Portuguese

Adjective

vernal m or f (plural vernais, comparable)

1. vernal (pertaining to spring)

Romanian

Etymology

From French vernal, from Latin vernalis.

Adjective

vernal m or n (feminine singular vernal?, masculine plural vernali, feminine and neuter plural vernale)

1. vernal

Declension

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin vern?lis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /be??nal/, [be??nal]
• Homophone: Bernal

Adjective

vernal (plural vernales)

1. vernal (pertaining to spring)

   Synonym: primaveral

Derived terms

Further reading

• “vernal” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?vi?n?l/
• Rhymes: -i?n?l

Etymology 1

From Latin v?na (“vein”) +? -al.

Adjective

venal (comparative more venal, superlative most venal)

1. Venous; pertaining to veins.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French vénal, from Old French venel, from Latin v?n?lis (“for sale”), from v?num (“something for sale”); compare vend.

Adjective

venal (comparative more venal, superlative most venal)

1. (archaic) For sale; available for purchase.

   Synonym: purchasable

2. Of a position, privilege etc.: available for purchase rather than assigned on merit.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 140:

     Thus, regimental commands in the army were – as with the judiciary or the financial bureaucracy – venal posts, which were purchased, bequeathed and sold among the nobility.

3. Capable of being bought (of a person); willing to take bribes.

   Synonym: crooked

   Antonyms: straight, honest, uncorrupt

4. (of behaviour etc.) Corrupt, mercenary.
   • 1785, The Times, 9 Feb 1785, page 1, column C:

     Though there is a disposition in mankind, to declaim against the corruption and peculation of the present times, as being more venal than formerly; yet, if we look back to different periods, we shall find statesmen and politicians, as selfish and corrupt, […] as those who have lately figured on the political stage.

Usage notes

Venal behavior (bribery/corruption) is not to be confused with venial behavior (mildly wrong behavior).

Related terms

• venally

Translations

Anagrams

• Alven, Levan, elvan, levan, navel

Catalan

Pronunciation

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /v??nal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /b??nal/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /ve?nal/

Etymology 1

vena +? -al

Adjective

venal (masculine and feminine plural venals)

1. venal, venous

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin v?n?lis (“for sale”), from v?num (“something for sale”).

Adjective

venal (masculine and feminine plural venals)

1. for sale, sellable
2. venal (willing to take bribes)

   Synonym: subornable

Further reading

• “venal” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “venal” in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana.
• “venal” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “venal” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Romanian

Etymology

From French vénal, from Latin venalis.

Adjective

venal m or n (feminine singular venal?, masculine plural venali, feminine and neuter plural venale)

1. venal, venous

Declension

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /be?nal/, [be?nal]

Etymology 1

From vena +? -al.

Adjective

venal (plural venales)

1. venous

   Synonym: venoso

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin v?n?lis (“for sale”), from v?num (“something for sale”).

Adjective

venal (plural venales)

1. venal, corruptible
2. for sale, sellable

Derived terms

• valor venal

Further reading

• “venal” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.