The language of the common people, as opposed to a literary language or an official language. The term "vernacular" can be used as either a noun or an adjective.

Ver*nac"u*lar (?), a. [L. vernaculus born in one's house, native, fr. verna a slave born in his master's house, a native, probably akin to Skr. vas to dwell, E. was.]

Belonging to the country of one's birth; one's own by birth or nature; native; indigenous; -- now used chiefly of language; as, English is our vernacular language.

"A vernacular disease."

Harvey.

His skill the vernacular dialect of the Celtic tongue. Fuller.

Which in our vernacular idiom may be thus interpreted. Pope.

 

© Webster 1913.


Ver*nac"u*lar, n.

The vernacular language; one's mother tongue; often, the common forms of expression in a particular locality.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.