autumnal

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: au=tum=nal

CIDE DICTIONARY

autumnal, a. [L. auctumnalis, autumnalis: cf. F. automnal.].

•  Of, belonging to, or peculiar to, autumn; as, an autumnal tint; produced or gathered in autumn; as, autumnal fruits; flowering in autumn; as, an autumnal plant.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks
  In Vallombrosa."  [1913 Webster]
•  Past the middle of life; in the third stage.  [1913 Webster]

  "An autumnal matron."  [1913 Webster]

Autumnal equinox, the time when the sun crosses the equator, as it proceeds southward, or when it passes the autumnal point. -- Autumnal point, the point of the equator intersected by the ecliptic, as the sun proceeds southward; the first point of Libra. -- Autumnal signs, the signs Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius, through which the sun passes between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

autumnal, adj.
1 of, characteristic of, or appropriate to autumn (autumnal colours).
2 occurring in autumn (autumnal equinox).
3 maturing or blooming in autumn.
4 past the prime of life.

Etymology

L autumnalis (as AUTUMN, -AL)

ROGET THESAURUS

autumnal

Evening

N evening, eve, decline of day, fall of day, close of day, candlelight, candlelighting, eventide, nightfall, curfew, dusk, twilight, eleventh hour, sunset, sundown, going down of the sun, cock-shut, dewy eve, gloaming, bedtime, afternoon, postmeridian, p, m, autumn, fall, fall of the leaf, autumnal equinox, Indian summer, St. Luke's summer, St. Martin's summer, midnight, dead of night, witching hour, witching hour of night, witching time of night, winter, killing time, vespertine, autumnal, nocturnal, midnight, the outpost of advancing day, sable-vested Night, this gorgeous arch with golden worlds inlay'd.