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Vernage
(Ver"nage) n. [It. vernaccia.] A kind of sweet wine from Italy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Vernal
(Ver"nal) a. [L. vernalis, fr. vernus vernal, ver spring; akin to Gr. Skr. vasanta, Icel. var, 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.
Vernant
(Ver"nant) a. [L. vernans, p. pr. vernare to flourish, from ver spring.] Flourishing, as in
spring; vernal. [Obs.] "Vernant flowers." Milton.
Vernate
(Ver"nate) v. i. [See Vernant.] To become young again. [Obs.]
Vernation
(Ver*na"tion) n. [F. vernation: cf. L. vernatio the sloughing of the skin of snakes.] (Bot.)
The arrangement of the leaves within the leaf bud, as regards their folding, coiling, rolling, etc.; prefoliation.
Vernicle
(Ver"ni*cle) n. A Veronica. See Veronica, 1. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
A vernicle had he sowed upon his cap. Chaucer. Vernicose
(Ver"ni*cose`) a. [See Varnish.] (Bot.) Having a brilliantly polished surface, as some leaves.
Vernier
(Ver"ni*er) n. [So named after the inventor, Pierre Vernier.] A short scale made to slide along
the divisions of a graduated instrument, as the limb of a sextant, or the scale of a barometer, for indicating
parts of divisions. It is so graduated that a certain convenient number of its divisions are just equal to a
certain number, either one less or one more, of the divisions of the instrument, so that parts of a division
are determined by observing what line on the vernier coincides with a line on the instrument.
Vernier calipers, Vernier gauge, a gauge with a graduated bar and a sliding jaw bearing a vernier,
used for accurate measurements. — Vernier compass, a surveyor's compass with a vernier for the
accurate adjustment of the zero point in accordance with magnetic variation. — Vernier transit, a
surveyor's transit instrument with a vernier compass.
Vernile
(Ver"nile) a. [L. vernilis servile. See Vernacular.] Suiting a salve; servile; obsequious. [R.]
The example . . . of vernile scurrility. De Quincey. Vernility
(Ver*nil"i*ty) n. [L. vernilitas.] Fawning or obsequious behavior; servility. [R.] Bailey.
Vernine
(Ver"nine) n. [Vernal + - ine.] (Chem.) An alkaloid extracted from the shoots of the vetch, red
clover, etc., as a white crystalline substance.
Vernish
(Ver"nish) n. & v. Varnish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Vernonin
(Ver"no*nin) n. (Chem.) A glucoside extracted from the root of a South African plant of the
genus Vernonia, as a deliquescent powder, and used as a mild heart tonic.
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