\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}.

\Ver"bal\, n. (Gram.)
A noun derived from a verb.