AUTUMNAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does autumnal mean? 

• AUTUMNAL (adjective)
  The adjective AUTUMNAL has 2 senses:

1. of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn

2. characteristic of late maturity verging on decline

  Familiarity information: AUTUMNAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AUTUMNAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn

Context example:

autumnal fruits

Similar:

autumn-blooming; autumn-flowering; fall-blooming; fall-flowering; late-blooming; late-flowering (of plants that bloom during the autumn)

late-ripening (of plants that ripen in the fall)

Antonym:

summery (belonging to or characteristic of or occurring in summer)

vernal (of or characteristic of or occurring in spring)

wintry (characteristic of or occurring in winter)

Derivation:

autumn (the season when the leaves fall from the trees)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characteristic of late maturity verging on decline

Context example:

a serene autumnal mood

Similar:

mature (characteristic of maturity)

 Context examples 

Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away these bleak autumnal evenings.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The thought stole into Alleyne's heart as he looked upon the autumnal country side and marvelled at its beauty.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sitting at the window, Beth's work often dropped into her lap, and she leaned her head upon her hand, in a dejected attitude, while her eyes rested on the dull, autumnal landscape.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The season between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice.

(Autumn, NCI Thesaurus)

Lady Russell, convinced that Anne would not be allowed to be of any use, or any importance, in the choice of the house which they were going to secure, was very unwilling to have her hurried away so soon, and wanted to make it possible for her to stay behind till she might convey her to Bath herself after Christmas; but having engagements of her own which must take her from Kellynch for several weeks, she was unable to give the full invitation she wished, and Anne though dreading the possible heats of September in all the white glare of Bath, and grieving to forego all the influence so sweet and so sad of the autumnal months in the country, did not think that, everything considered, she wished to remain.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I had remained indoors all day, for the weather had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)