hesternal

hes·tern·al
H4E1S1T1E1R1N1A1L1
UK/hɛsˈtɜːnl̩/US/hɛsˈtɝn(ə)l/

adjective

Of or pertaining to yesterday.

Similar
Scrabble 12

Meanings

adjectivehesternal (not comparable)
  1. archaicliterarynot comparableregionalgrammarOf or pertaining to yesterday.

    The hesternal or 'yesterday', tense differs from the hodiernal in having a tone on the subject prefix.

    [1965], “A Learner’s Synopsis of Kirundi Structure”, in Earl W[ilson] Stevick, editor, Kirundi: Basic Course […], Washington, D.C.: Foreign Service Institute, Department of State, →OCLC, page xxxii
    5 more examples

    [A]t laſt, this happy fellow, on a high / Bed laid, and dawbed over with thick ointments, / Extends his rigid heels towards the door; but him / The heſternal Romans, with cover'd head, ſuſtained.

    1795, Aulus Persius Flaccus, “Satire III”, in M[artin] Madan, transl., A New and Literal Translation of the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus, Dublin: […] John Exshaw, […], →OCLC, page 93

    But notwithstanding my cupidity for such dainties, I have that happy adaptation of taste which can banquet, with delight, upon hesternal offals; can nibble ignominious radishes, or masticate superannuated mutton.

    1813, Eaton Stannard Barrett, “Letter X”, in The Heroine, or Adventures of a Fair Romance Reader, … In Three Volumes, volume I, London: […] Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 118–119

    I will keep no further journal of that same hesternal torch‐light; and, to prevent me from returning, like a dog, to the vomit of memory, I tear out the remaining leaves of this volume, and write, in Ipecacuanha,—'that the Bourbons are restored!!!' 'Hang up philosophy.'

    1814 April 19, Lord Byron [George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron], “Journal, 1814”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Letters and Journals of Lord Byron: […] In Two Volumes, volume I, London: John Murray, […], published 1830, →OCLC, page 514

    I rose by candle-light, and consumed, in the intensest application, the hours which every other individual of our party wasted in enervating slumbers, from the hesternal dissipation or debauch.

    1828, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XX, in Pelham; or, The Adventures of a Gentleman. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 196

    We use the following meaning labels to characterize remoteness distinctions: [...] Hesternal past: the situation occurred yesterday, or on the day preceding the speech event. / Pre-hesternal past: the situation occurred before yesterday.

    1994, Joan [Lea] Bybee, Revere [Dale] Perkins, William Pagliuca, “Anterior, Perfective, and Related Senses”, in The Evolution of Grammar: Tense, Aspect, and Modality in the Languages of the World, Chicago, Ill.; London: University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, section 3.16 (Degrees of Remoteness), page 98

    Synonyms: hestern

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf or pertaining to yesterday.

Similar

Origin

  1. Latinhesternus“of or pertaining to yesterday; yesterday’s”
  2. Englishhesternal

From Latin hesternus (“of or pertaining to yesterday; yesterday’s”) + English -al (suffix forming adjectives).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with hesternal

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

hesternal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hesternal

MLA

“hesternal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hesternal. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hesternal,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hesternal.

Source: hesternal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.