Dictionary

floriography en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Received-Pronunciation) audio
• /ˌflɔːɹiˈɒɡɹəfi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌflɒɹiˈɑɡɹəfi/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Latin flōris + English -o- + -graphy (suffix indicating something represented in the specified manner). Flōris is the genitive singular of flōs (“blossom, flower”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (“blossom, flower”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) Communication through the use of flowers, with different types of flowers having particular symbolic meanings.
   • Victorians also gloried in "floriography", or written alphabets of flowers that assigned each flower a certain quality, such as friendship, hope, or gratitude. 2001, Iwona Eberle, “The Garden and Literature”, in Eve with a Spade: Women, Gardens, and Literature in the Nineteenth Century, with a Focus on Works by Elizabeth von Arnim, Munich, Bavaria: GRIN Verlag, →ISBN, page 23:
   • Floriography was popular in Victorian times. Bouquets called tussy-mussies were sent as coded messages, allowing the sender to express feelings that couldn't be spoken aloud. You could say almost anything with flowers, in the right combination. 2014, Susan Elia MacNeal, chapter 11, in The Prime Minister’s Secret Agent (A Maggie Hope Mystery), New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books, →ISBN, page 147:
   • Just as many cultures help create the global economy, so do countless floriographies manifest peribology. 2013 November 19, Bryan Sisson, “Communicating a Language”, in Peribology: A Budding of Secrets Compiling Cultural Insights Regarding Nature’s Treasures, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 63:
   • Floriography became popular in Victorian times when strict etiquette didn't allow women to express their feelings freely. So they did it coyly, using the silent language of flowers to express their sentiments to their admirers, and vice versa. 2004, Pamela Griffin, A Single Rose (Heartsong Presents; HP586), Uhrichsville, Oh.: Heartsong Presents, →ISBN, page 27:
   • Floriography is a science that requires but little study. Some flowers almost bear written upon their upturned faces the thoughts of which they are living representatives. 1881, M[artha] L[ouise] Rayne, “The Literature of Flowers—Signification of Names—Poetical Language of Flowers”, in Gems of Deportment and Hints of Etiquette: The Ceremonials of Good Society, including Valuable Moral, Mental, and Physical Knowledge, […], Detroit, Mich.: Tyler & Co. and R. D. S. Tyler & Co. …, →OCLC, page 320:
   • Hundreds of flowers were assigned meanings in floriographies of the day. A yellow carnation signified disappointment or rejection, hibiscus meant consumed by love, elderflower symbolized zeal, lavender stood for love and violet indicated modesty or virtue. 2016, Constance L. Kirker, Mary Newman, “Europe”, in Edible Flowers: A Global History (The Edible Series), London: Reaktion Books, →ISBN:
   • Time was, the author assures us, "when no gallant knight or gentle dame could aspire to good breeding unless perfectly conversant with floriography." 1965, The Illustrated London News, volume 246, number 2, London: Illustrated London News and Sketch, →OCLC, page xvi, column 2:

Forms

Relateds

floriographer · floriographic · tussie-mussie

Synonyms

language of flowers

Translations (16)

sv blomsterspråk (communication through the use of flowers) · yue 花語 /花语 (communication through the use of flowers) · fr langage des fleurs (communication through the use of flowers) · fi kukkaiskieli (communication through the use of flowers) · af blommetaal (communication through the use of flowers) · cs květomluva (communication through the use of flowers) · ru флориогра́фия (communication through the use of flowers) · de Blumensprache (communication through the use of flowers) · hy ֆլորիոգրաֆիա (communication through the use of flowers) · pt linguagem das flores (communication through the use of flowers) · eo florlingvo (communication through the use of flowers) · it linguaggio dei fiori (communication through the use of flowers) · cmn 花語 /花语 (communication through the use of flowers) · ja 花言葉 (communication through the use of flowers) · ko 꽃말 (communication through the use of flowers) · id bahasa bunga (communication through the use of flowers)

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