flourish

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Archived revision by ReloadtheMatrix (talk | contribs) as of 20:02, 3 January 2020.
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

WOTD – 4 May 2010

Etymology

Lua error: The template Template:PIE root does not use the parameter(s): 
2=bʰleh₃
Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.

(deprecated template usage)

From Middle English floryschen, from Old French floriss-, stem of some conjugated forms of florir (compare French fleurir), from Vulgar Latin *florīre, from Latin flōreō (“I bloom”) (and conjugation partly from flōrēscō), from flōs (“flower”). See flower + -ish.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/, /ˈflɝ.ɪʃ/
    • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "hypercorrection" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈflʊɹ.ɪʃ/
  • Audio (US)(file)
    (accents with the "Hurry-furry" merger)

Verb

Lua error in Module:en-headword at line 1139: Legacy parameter 1=es/ies/d no longer supported, just use 'en-verb' without params

  1. (intransitive) To thrive or grow well.
    • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
      'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
    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.
    • (Can we date this quote by Nelson and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness.
    • 1792, Anthony à Wood, The History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford: In Two Books‎[1], volume 1, Oxford: John Gutch, →OCLC, page 661:
      One hall called Civil Law Hall or School, flouriſhed about this time (though in its buildings decayed) by the care of the learned and judicious Dr. Will. Warham Principal or Moderator thereof […]
  3. (intransitive) To be in a period of greatest influence.
    His writing flourished before the war.
  4. (transitive) To develop; to make thrive; to expand.
    • (Can we date this quote by Francis Bacon and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Bottoms of thread […] which with a good needle, perhaps may be flourished into large works.
  5. (transitive) To make bold, sweeping movements with.
    They flourished the banner as they stormed the palace.
  6. (intransitive) To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion.
    • (Can we date this quote by Alexander Pope and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Impetuous spread the stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head.
  7. (intransitive) To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions.
    • (Can we date this quote by J. Watts and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      They dilate […] and flourish long on little incidents.
  8. (intransitive) To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures.
  9. (transitive) To adorn with beautiful figures or rhetoric; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish.
    • (Can we date this quote by Fenton and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      With shadowy verdure flourish'd high,
      A sudden youth the groves enjoy.
    • (Can we date this quote by William Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?), Measure for Measure, Act IV, Scene 1
      To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin, Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit.
  10. (intransitive) To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude.
  11. (intransitive, obsolete) To boast; to vaunt; to brag.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Alexander Pope to this entry?)

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

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

References

Anagrams

Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=flourish&oldid=58290824"