Ver"bal (?), a. [F., fr. L. verbalis. See Verb.] 1. Expressed in words, whether spoken or written, but commonly in spoken words; hence, spoken; oral; not written; as, a verbal contract; verbal testimony.
Made she no verbal question?
Shak.
We subjoin an engraving . . . which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind.
Mayhew.
2. Consisting in, or having to do with, words only; dealing with words rather than with the ideas intended to be conveyed; as, a verbal critic; a verbal change.
And loses, though but verbal, his reward.
Milton.
Mere verbal refinements, instead of substantial knowledge.
Whewell.
3. Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as, a verbal translation.
4. Abounding with words; verbose. [Obs.]
Shak.
5. Gram. Of or pertaining to a verb; as, a verbal group; derived directly from a verb; as, a verbal noun; used in forming verbs; as, a verbal prefix.
Verbal inspiration. See under Inspiration. -- Verbal noun Gram., a noun derived directly from a verb or verb stem; a verbal. The term is specifically applied to infinitives, and nouns ending in -ing, esp. to the latter. See Gerund, and -ing, 2. See also, Infinitive mood, under Infinitive.
© Webster 1913.
Ver"bal, n. Gram. A noun derived from a verb.
© Webster 1913. | 
