flourish

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WOTD – 4 May 2010    

Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Old English florisshen, flurisshen, and from Old French floriss-, stem of some conjugated forms of florir, (French fleurir);, from Vulgar Latin florire, from Latin flōreō (“I bloom”) (with influence from flōrēscō), from flōs (“flower”). See flower + -ish.

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/
  • (US) IPA: /ˈflɝ.ɪʃ/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)

Verb [edit]

flourish (third-person singular simple present flourishes, present participle flourishing, simple past and past participle flourished)

  1. (intransitive) To thrive or grow well.
    The barley flourished in the warm weather.
  2. (intransitive) To prosper or fare well.
    The town flourished with the coming of the railway.
    The cooperation flourished as the customers rushed in the business.
  3. (intransitive) To be in a period of greatest influence.
    His writing flourished before the war.
  4. (transitive) To make bold, sweeping movements with.
    They flourished the banner as they stormed the palace.

Synonyms [edit]

Translations [edit]

to thrive or grow well
to prosper or fare well
to be in a period of greatest influence
to make bold, sweeping movements

Noun [edit]

flourish (plural flourishes)

  1. A dramatic gesture such as the waving of a flag.
    With many flourishes of the captured banner, they marched down the avenue.
  2. An ornamentation.
    His signature ended with a flourish.
  3. (music) A ceremonious passage such as a fanfare.
    The trumpets blew a flourish as they entered the church.
  4. (architecture) A decorative embellishment on a building.

Translations [edit]

dramatic gesture
ornamentation
ceremonious passage

References [edit]

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