* "prae": meaning "before" or "in front of"
* "vernalis": meaning "of spring"
Therefore, prevernal literally means "before spring". It refers to the period of time immediately preceding the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
This word is primarily used in scientific contexts, particularly in botany and ecology, to describe phenomena that occur before spring, such as the emergence of early-blooming plants or the migration of certain animals.