Fancy Spring Words To Breathe Life Into Your Budding Vocabulary
As Leo Tolstoy wrote in the classic Anna Karenina, âspring is the time of plans and projects.â To put it more bluntly, spring is a time of new growth, new experiences, and, in most of the world, temperamental weather. To encourage your personal growth during this season of change, why not try out some of these sophisticated vocabulary terms related to spring?
verdurous
Verdurous is an adjective meaning ârich in verdure; freshly green; verdant.â Verdure is a fancy word meaning âgreenness, especially of fresh, flourishing vegetation.â The word comes from the Middle French verd, meaning âgreen.â (The modern French equivalent of this word is vert.)
vernal
An adjective that directly relates to the season is vernal, meaning âof or relating to spring.â It is also used figuratively to mean âbelonging to or characteristic of youth,â which is just one of many examples of spring being related to new birth or adolescence. Vernal comes from Latin vernÄlis, meaning âof spring.â
recrudesce
Many of the words in this list end in the suffixes -esce, -escent, or -escence, which are used to denote the beginning of an action. This makes sense if you consider the overall theme of spring, which is the beginning of new life or new experiences. One such word is recrudesce, âto break out afresh, as a sore, a disease, or anything else that has been quiescent.â Quiescent is another fancy word that means âbeing at rest.â
frondescence
Another word that describes plants shaking off their winter slumber and waking up to spring is frondescence, âthe process or period of putting forth leaves, as a tree, plant, or the like.â The word comes from the Latin frondescÄns, âbecoming leafy.â If the frond- part of the word looks familiar, thatâs probably because the English frond means âan often large, finely divided leaf,â from the Latin frond meaning âbranch.â
effloresce
Yet another -esce verb on this list is effloresce, âto burst into bloom, blossom.â In chemistry, however, the verb has a specific meaning to describe a surface becoming covered in a âmealy or powdery substance upon exposure to airâ or âcovered with crystals of salt.â You can imagine it looks like crystals âbloomingâ on the surface of a substance.
juvenescence
The word is a noun meaning âyouth or immaturityâ or âthe act or process of growing from childhood to youth.â The juven- part of the word comes from the Latin for âyoung.â This is ultimately the same Latin root we see in the more familiar juvenile, meaning âyoungâ or âyouthful.â
renascent
In the spring, it seems as if everything is renascent after the long, cold winter. Renascent means âbeing reborn; springing again into being or vigor.â The Latin root of this word can also be seen in the word Renaissance, a term given to the âgreat revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th century and extending to the 17th century,â a time when culture was being reborn after the medieval ages.
incalescent
One of the most pleasant aspects of spring is that the weather is incalescent, or âincreasing in heat or ardor.â While this term can be used literally to describe something becoming warm, it is also used to describe a growing romance or love, when things are âheating up.â
provenience
The spring is a time when new things begin. In other words, it is the provenience of many creatures. Provenience means âorigin; source.â The word provenience is primarily used in archaeology to describe the spot where an object is found or originated, to differentiate from provenance, which describes the chain of ownership of an object.
risorgimento
A term similar to renascent is risorgimento [ ri-zawr-juhâmen-toh ], âany period or instance of rebirth or renewed activity.â When capitalized, it refers to a specific period of Italian history during âthe period of or movement for the liberation and unification of Italy, 1750â1870.â As you may have guessed, the word risorgimento comes from Italian for âto rise again.â
pullulate
Pullulate is a verb with a variety of meanings, including âto send forth sprouts, buds, etc.; germinate; sproutâ and âto exist abundantly; swarm; teem.â In the spring, plants and animals pullulate. The verb pullulate comes from the Latin pullulÄre, meaning âto sprout, bring forth young.â Specifically, a pullus in Latin means âchicken,â which is ultimately the root of the French word for chicken, poulet.
fecundate
A verb related to pullulate is fecundate, âto make prolific or fruitful.â The word fecund and its verb form fecundate is ultimately related to root fÄtus, âbringing forth of young.â If that word looks familiar, thatâs because itâs at the root of the English fetus, âthe young of an animal in the womb or egg.â Itâs all about the birth of new life.
erumpent
One of the first signs of spring is when the crocuses grow erumpent from the cold, hard earth. Erumpent is an adjective that means âbursting forth.â It is also used particularly to describe fungi or algae âprojecting from or bursting through host tissue.â The way that mushrooms pop up on the bark of decomposing trees is a good visualization of the meaning of erumpent.
burgeon
Another word that describes the proliferation of new growth that occurs in the spring is burgeon, âto grow or develop quickly; flourish.â Burgeon is generally used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun to mean âa bud; sprout.â The origin of burgeon is pretty interesting; it ultimately comes from the Latin burra meaning âwool, fluff,â likely a reference to the down covering certain buds in spring.
redolent
With all of the new flowers blossoming, trees leafing, and the rain making the world smell of wet dirt, one good word to describe spring is redolent, âhaving a pleasant odor; fragrant.â This is an adjective that is also used figuratively to mean âsuggestive; reminiscent [of].â For example, Her poems are redolent of Keatsâs sonnets, or they make one think of Keatsâs sonnets.
hyetal
Speaking of the general dampness of spring, one good word to describe this weather is hyetal [ hahy-i-tl ], âof or relating to rain or rainfall.â Unlike the majority of the words on this list which have Latin roots, hyetal comes from the Greek hyetÃģs, which means ârain.â This is why the study of rainfall is technically known as hyetography or hyetology.
salubrious
When the gray clouds of winter lift and a crisp spring breeze blows in, the weather feels especially salubrious, âfavorable to or promoting health; healthful.â Thereâs nothing like a little fresh air to perk you up. Salubrious comes from the Latin salÅŦbris, meaning âpromoting health.â The word salutary comes from a similar root, and it means âfavorable to or promoting health; healthful.â
Chelidonian
One way to describe a spring breeze is Chelidonian, which is what the ancient Greeks called it. The name comes from the Greek for swallow, because the appearance of the spring wind augured their appearance. It was believed that the swallows flew from Africa to Europe on the Chelidonian winds.
bucolic
Another term from Greek we can use to describe the spring is bucolic, which literally means âof or relating to shepherds; pastoral.â However, it is typically used figuratively to describe any pleasant natural or country scene. Historically, a bucolic was a specific kind of âpastoral poemâ that describes the peacefulness or beauty of rural life.
vivify
You may feel particularly vivified in the spring months. Vivify is a verb that means âto give life to; animate; quicken.â The root of vivify is the Late Latin vÄŦvificÄre, which roughly translates to âto make live.â
Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.
Read more Fancy Spring Words To Breathe Life Into Your Budding Vocabulary
As Leo Tolstoy wrote in the classic Anna Karenina, âspring is the time of plans and projects.â To put it more bluntly, spring is a time of new growth, new experiences, and, in most of the world, temperamental weather. To encourage your personal growth during this season of change, why not try out some of these sophisticated vocabulary terms related to spring?
verdurous
Verdurous is an adjective meaning ârich in verdure; freshly green; verdant.â Verdure is a fancy word meaning âgreenness, especially of fresh, flourishing vegetation.â The word comes from the Middle French verd, meaning âgreen.â (The modern French equivalent of this word is vert.)
vernal
An adjective that directly relates to the season is vernal, meaning âof or relating to spring.â It is also used figuratively to mean âbelonging to or characteristic of youth,â which is just one of many examples of spring being related to new birth or adolescence. Vernal comes from Latin vernÄlis, meaning âof spring.â
recrudesce
Many of the words in this list end in the suffixes -esce, -escent, or -escence, which are used to denote the beginning of an action. This makes sense if you consider the overall theme of spring, which is the beginning of new life or new experiences. One such word is recrudesce, âto break out afresh, as a sore, a disease, or anything else that has been quiescent.â Quiescent is another fancy word that means âbeing at rest.â
frondescence
Another word that describes plants shaking off their winter slumber and waking up to spring is frondescence, âthe process or period of putting forth leaves, as a tree, plant, or the like.â The word comes from the Latin frondescÄns, âbecoming leafy.â If the frond- part of the word looks familiar, thatâs probably because the English frond means âan often large, finely divided leaf,â from the Latin frond meaning âbranch.â
effloresce
Yet another -esce verb on this list is effloresce, âto burst into bloom, blossom.â In chemistry, however, the verb has a specific meaning to describe a surface becoming covered in a âmealy or powdery substance upon exposure to airâ or âcovered with crystals of salt.â You can imagine it looks like crystals âbloomingâ on the surface of a substance.
juvenescence
The word is a noun meaning âyouth or immaturityâ or âthe act or process of growing from childhood to youth.â The juven- part of the word comes from the Latin for âyoung.â This is ultimately the same Latin root we see in the more familiar juvenile, meaning âyoungâ or âyouthful.â
renascent
In the spring, it seems as if everything is renascent after the long, cold winter. Renascent means âbeing reborn; springing again into being or vigor.â The Latin root of this word can also be seen in the word Renaissance, a term given to the âgreat revival of art, literature, and learning in Europe beginning in the 14th century and extending to the 17th century,â a time when culture was being reborn after the medieval ages.
incalescent
One of the most pleasant aspects of spring is that the weather is incalescent, or âincreasing in heat or ardor.â While this term can be used literally to describe something becoming warm, it is also used to describe a growing romance or love, when things are âheating up.â
provenience
The spring is a time when new things begin. In other words, it is the provenience of many creatures. Provenience means âorigin; source.â The word provenience is primarily used in archaeology to describe the spot where an object is found or originated, to differentiate from provenance, which describes the chain of ownership of an object.
risorgimento
A term similar to renascent is risorgimento [ ri-zawr-juhâmen-toh ], âany period or instance of rebirth or renewed activity.â When capitalized, it refers to a specific period of Italian history during âthe period of or movement for the liberation and unification of Italy, 1750â1870.â As you may have guessed, the word risorgimento comes from Italian for âto rise again.â
pullulate
Pullulate is a verb with a variety of meanings, including âto send forth sprouts, buds, etc.; germinate; sproutâ and âto exist abundantly; swarm; teem.â In the spring, plants and animals pullulate. The verb pullulate comes from the Latin pullulÄre, meaning âto sprout, bring forth young.â Specifically, a pullus in Latin means âchicken,â which is ultimately the root of the French word for chicken, poulet.
fecundate
A verb related to pullulate is fecundate, âto make prolific or fruitful.â The word fecund and its verb form fecundate is ultimately related to root fÄtus, âbringing forth of young.â If that word looks familiar, thatâs because itâs at the root of the English fetus, âthe young of an animal in the womb or egg.â Itâs all about the birth of new life.
erumpent
One of the first signs of spring is when the crocuses grow erumpent from the cold, hard earth. Erumpent is an adjective that means âbursting forth.â It is also used particularly to describe fungi or algae âprojecting from or bursting through host tissue.â The way that mushrooms pop up on the bark of decomposing trees is a good visualization of the meaning of erumpent.
burgeon
Another word that describes the proliferation of new growth that occurs in the spring is burgeon, âto grow or develop quickly; flourish.â Burgeon is generally used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun to mean âa bud; sprout.â The origin of burgeon is pretty interesting; it ultimately comes from the Latin burra meaning âwool, fluff,â likely a reference to the down covering certain buds in spring.
redolent
With all of the new flowers blossoming, trees leafing, and the rain making the world smell of wet dirt, one good word to describe spring is redolent, âhaving a pleasant odor; fragrant.â This is an adjective that is also used figuratively to mean âsuggestive; reminiscent [of].â For example, Her poems are redolent of Keatsâs sonnets, or they make one think of Keatsâs sonnets.
hyetal
Speaking of the general dampness of spring, one good word to describe this weather is hyetal [ hahy-i-tl ], âof or relating to rain or rainfall.â Unlike the majority of the words on this list which have Latin roots, hyetal comes from the Greek hyetÃģs, which means ârain.â This is why the study of rainfall is technically known as hyetography or hyetology.
salubrious
When the gray clouds of winter lift and a crisp spring breeze blows in, the weather feels especially salubrious, âfavorable to or promoting health; healthful.â Thereâs nothing like a little fresh air to perk you up. Salubrious comes from the Latin salÅŦbris, meaning âpromoting health.â The word salutary comes from a similar root, and it means âfavorable to or promoting health; healthful.â
Chelidonian
One way to describe a spring breeze is Chelidonian, which is what the ancient Greeks called it. The name comes from the Greek for swallow, because the appearance of the spring wind augured their appearance. It was believed that the swallows flew from Africa to Europe on the Chelidonian winds.
bucolic
Another term from Greek we can use to describe the spring is bucolic, which literally means âof or relating to shepherds; pastoral.â However, it is typically used figuratively to describe any pleasant natural or country scene. Historically, a bucolic was a specific kind of âpastoral poemâ that describes the peacefulness or beauty of rural life.
vivify
You may feel particularly vivified in the spring months. Vivify is a verb that means âto give life to; animate; quicken.â The root of vivify is the Late Latin vÄŦvificÄre, which roughly translates to âto make live.â
Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.