Definition of VERDANT

Synonyms & Antonyms for verdant

Synonyms

Antonyms

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English speakers have been using "verdant" as a ripe synonym of "green" since the late 16th century, and as a descriptive term for inexperienced or naive people since the 1820s. (By contrast, the more experienced "green" has colored our language since well before the 12th century, and was first applied to inexperienced people in the 1540s.) "Verdant" is derived from the Old French word for "green," vert, which in turn is from Latin virērē, meaning "to be green." Today, "vert" is used in English as a word for green forest vegetation and the heraldic color green. Another descendant of "virere" is the adjective virescent, meaning "beginning to be green."

Examples of verdant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When super-concentrated, these green neutrophils can make your mucus appear straight-up verdant. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Here’s What It Means If You Have Yellow Mucus," 15 Mar. 2019 But now, a new study in Nature Astronomy suggests that with current technology, transforming the Red Planet into a verdant oasis would actually be impossible. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Nobody Is Terraforming Mars Anytime Soon, NASA Says," 30 July 2018 The Green Room’s verdant, ruby- accented decor was inspired by the original green tiles framing the fireplace. — Vanessa Lawrence, ELLE Decor, "Inside Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin's Elegantly Theatrical New York Townhouse," 5 Nov. 2018 Nestled amid the verdant landscape of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, the house’s sober porticoed exterior gives no indication of what lies inside: a zesty explosion of hues that range from rich purple to perky yellow. — Robert O'byrne, ELLE Decor, "Tour a Legendary Manor in Northern Ireland," 12 Oct. 2018 Outside, a verdant sculpture garden plays with the natural landscape. — Elizabeth Wellington, Vogue, "This French Island Is the Nantucket of the Mediterranean," 16 Aug. 2018 Sophisticated Japanese-inspired interiors mirror the food on the plates, and most tables overlook a verdant Japanese sculpture garden. — Sophie Davies, Condé Nast Traveler, "29 Best Restaurants in Sydney," 14 Mar. 2018 From a verdant valley in the middle of Bhutan to the well-tread steps of Santorini, Greece, these 50 picks have it all: inimitable style, discreet, but sharp service, destination restaurant-worthy food, and more. — Betsy Blumenthal, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Hotels in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards," 9 Oct. 2018 The war was the beginning of a series of conflicts that swept the verdant hills of eastern Congo, a region rich with minerals such as gold, tin and coltan. — Gabriele Steinhauser, WSJ, "Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Anti-Sexual Violence Campaigners," 5 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'verdant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for verdant

contracted from Middle French verdoyant, from present participle of verdoyer "to be green, turn green," going back to Old French verdoier, from verd, vert "green" (going back to Latin viridis, from a base *wir-, whence virēre "to show green growth, be green" of uncertain origin) + -oier, factitive verb suffix, going back to Latin -idiāre, originally representing variant pronunciation (or spelling variant) of -izāre -ize

Note: Latin viridis and virēre have been linked to Lithuanian visti "to multiply, breed," veisti "to breed, rear," as well as to Old English wīse "sprout, stalk," Old High German wisa "meadow," though the semantic connections are vague enough to make this a very tenuous hypothesis.

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