[French verdoyant, from Old French, present participle of verdoyer, to become green, from Vulgar Latin *viridiāre, from Latin viridis.] ver'dan·cy n., ver'dant·ly adv.
1581, "green," from M.Fr. virdeant "becoming green," prp. of O.Fr. verdeiier "become green," from V.L. *viridiare "grow green, make green," from L. viridis "green" (see verdure).