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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

flourish en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (California) audio
  • /ˈflɐɹ.ɘʃ/ (New-Zealand)
  • /ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/ (Boston, Mid-Atlantic, New-York-City, Received-Pronunciation, US)
  • /ˈflʊ̈ɹ.ɪʃ/ (US)
  • /ˈflɐɹ.ɪ̟ʃ/ (Australia)
  • /ˈflɝ.ɪʃ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • (New-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English floryschen, from Old French florir (via the arrhizotonic stem floriss-), from Late Latin flōrīre, from Latin flōrēre, from Latin flōrem (“flower”, noun). Corresponds to flower + -ish.

Meanings

  1. A dramatic gesture such as the waving of a flag.
    • This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 1, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 1:
    • With many flourishes of the captured banner, they marched down the avenue.
    • Gabriel Jesus' solo goal - as a stunned United pushed for an equaliser - was a flourish that eased any late nerves. 2023 September 3, Phil McNulty, “Declan Rice: The game-changing midfielder Arsenal need for title challenge”, in BBC Sport:
  2. An ornamentation.
    • [B]revity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes[.] c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
    • His signature ended with a flourish.
  3. A ceremonious passage such as a fanfare.
    • The trumpets blew a flourish as they entered the church.
    • [I]f he is a soldier in command, successes will be amplified, and the results of his campaigns announced with a flourish of trumpets. 1872, Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Percival Frost, The Annals of Tacitus with a Commentary by the Rev. Percival Frost, M.A, London: Whittaker & Co.; George Bell, Life of Tacitus:
  4. A decorative embellishment on a building.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
flourishes Number=Plur lexicographic
florysh alternative, obsolete lexicographic
floryshe alternative, obsolete lexicographic

Translations (52)

nl ornament (ornamentation) · nl gezwaai (dramatic gesture) · de Schnörkel (ornamentation) · ru туш (ceremonious passage) · uk фанфа́ра (ceremonious passage) · de Verzierung (ornamentation) · bg завъртулка (ornamentation) · uk туш (ceremonious passage) · de Ornament (architecture: decorative embellishment) · es ademanes (dramatic gesture) · fi koriste (architecture: decorative embellishment) · nl zwaai (dramatic gesture) · io fiorituro (ornamentation) · it sventolio (dramatic gesture) · cs tuš (ceremonious passage) · es floritura (ornamentation) · fi koriste (ornamentation) · ru завиту́шка (ornamentation) · eo fanfaro (ceremonious passage) · de Dekoration (architecture: decorative embellishment) · de Tusch (ceremonious passage) · de Schwung (ornamentation) · de Hieb (dramatic gesture) · cs kudrlinka (ornamentation) · ru фанфа́ра (ceremonious passage) · fr morceau de bravoure (ceremonious passage) · de Trompetenstoß (ceremonious passage) · it gesticolio (dramatic gesture) · ru загогу́лина (ornamentation) · cs fanfára (ceremonious passage) · enm floryshe (dramatic gesture) · de Ausschmückung (ornamentation) · ca floritura (dramatic gesture) · bg размахване (dramatic gesture) · es floreo (ornamentation) · fr fioriture (ornamentation) · de überschwengliche Geste (dramatic gesture) · ja 見せびらかし (dramatic gesture) · ca floritura (ornamentation) · nl versiering (ornamentation) · ca ornament (architecture: decorative embellishment) · it svolazzo (ornamentation) · fi koukero (ornamentation) · pt floreio (ornamentation) · de Verzierung (architecture: decorative embellishment) · uk ро́зчерк (ornamentation) · bg фанфари (ceremonious passage) · it girigogolo (ornamentation) · ru ро́счерк (ornamentation) · de große Geste (dramatic gesture) · fr gesticulation (dramatic gesture) · de Fanfare (ceremonious passage)

flourish en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • (California) audio
  • /ˈflɐɹ.ɘʃ/ (New-Zealand)
  • /ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/ (Boston, Mid-Atlantic, New-York-City, Received-Pronunciation, US)
  • /ˈflʊ̈ɹ.ɪʃ/ (US)
  • /ˈflɐɹ.ɪ̟ʃ/ (Australia)
  • /ˈflɝ.ɪʃ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • (New-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English floryschen, from Old French florir (via the arrhizotonic stem floriss-), from Late Latin flōrīre, from Latin flōrēre, from Latin flōrem (“flower”, noun). Corresponds to flower + -ish.

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To thrive or grow well.
    • The barley flourished in the warm weather.
    • '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. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, page 1:
  2. (intransitive) To prosper or fare well.
    • Kobbie Mainoo, so often overlooked by Amorim, flourished alongside Casemiro in midfield as United controlled the game. 2026 January 17, Simon Stone, Shamoon Hafez, “Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City”, in BBC:
    • Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness. 1795, Robert Nelson, A Companion for the Festivals and Fasts of the Church of England:
    • The town flourished with the coming of the railway.
    • The cooperation flourished as the customers rushed in the business.
    • 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 […] 1792, Anthony à Wood, The History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford: In Two Books, volume 1, Oxford: John Gutch, →OCLC, page 661:
  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.
    • But all that I ſhall ſay in this vvhole Argument, vvill be but like Bottomes of Thred, cloſe vvound vp, vvhich vvith a good Needle (perhaps) may be flouriſhed into large VVorkes. a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC, page 4:
  5. (transitive) To make bold, sweeping movements with.
    • The squirrel flourished its fluffy tail about as an alarm signal after its narrow escape from the cat.
    • 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.
    • Impetuous spread the stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head. 1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC:
  7. (intransitive) To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions.
    • They dilate […] and flourish long upon little incidents. 1725, Isaac Watts, Logick: Or, The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry after Truth, […], 2nd edition, London: […] John Clark and Richard Hett, […], Emanuel Matthews, […], and Richard Ford, […], published 1726, →OCLC:
  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.
    • With shadowy verdure flourish'd high, A sudden youth the groves enjoy. 1716, Elijah Fenton, an ode to John Gower:
    • To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin, Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
  10. (intransitive) To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude.
    • Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus? c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
  11. (intransitive, obsolete) To boast; to vaunt; to brag.
  12. (archaic, transitive) To brandish (a weapon).
  13. (intransitive) To be known to have been alive at a particular time or in a particular period, where one's birth and death dates are not known; to have been active during a specified period; floruit.
    • John Smith (flourished 1425-1432) was...

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
flourished Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
flourished Tense=Past lexicographic
flourishes Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
florysh alternative, obsolete lexicographic
floryshe alternative, obsolete lexicographic
flourishing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

flourishable · reflourish · flourishment · flourisher · flourishly · outflourish · unflourished · flourishy · overflourish

Translations (130)

io florifar (to prosper or fare well) · ja 繁栄する (to thrive or grow well) · de schwingen (to make bold, sweeping movements) · grc ἀκμάζω (to make bold, sweeping movements) · de sich entwickeln (to prosper or fare well) · es florecer (to prosper or fare well) · oc brandir (to make bold, sweeping movements) · enm flouren (to thrive or grow well) · de großen Erfolg haben (to be in a period of greatest influence) · fr fleurir (to thrive or grow well) · bg процъфтявам (to prosper or fare well) · cs vzkvétat (to prosper or fare well) · de sich gut entwickeln (to thrive or grow well) · grc θάλλω (to thrive or grow well) · mi ngaruru (to thrive or grow well) · de gedeihen (to prosper or fare well) · mi tīwaiwai (to make bold, sweeping movements) · de schwungvoll bewegen (to make bold, sweeping movements) · nb blomstre (to be in a period of greatest influence) · ja 繁茂する (to thrive or grow well) · mi whakakapakapa (to make bold, sweeping movements) · nl floreren (to prosper or fare well) · la vigeō (to thrive or grow well) · hi पनपना (to thrive or grow well) · ro înflori (to be in a period of greatest influence) · ro înflori (to prosper or fare well) · is sveifla (to make bold, sweeping movements) · de spriessen (to thrive or grow well) · nb vise (to make bold, sweeping movements) · sv frodas (to thrive or grow well) · sv blomstra (to thrive or grow well) · uk розма́хувати (to make bold, sweeping movements) · oc far flòri (to prosper or fare well) · nb florere (to prosper or fare well) · cs dařit se (to thrive or grow well) · de schnörkeln (to make bold, sweeping movements) · grc ἀκμάζω (to prosper or fare well) · is blómstra (to thrive or grow well) · de blühen (to thrive or grow well) · enm flouren (to prosper or fare well) · cs dařit se (to prosper or fare well) · la floreō (to thrive or grow well) · cs gestikulovat (to make bold, sweeping movements) · la vigeō (to prosper or fare well) · it fiorire (to be in a period of greatest influence) · de überschwenglich gestikulieren (to make bold, sweeping movements) · cmn 繁榮 /繁荣 (to thrive or grow well) · de florieren (to prosper or fare well) · oc florir (to thrive or grow well) · nb trives (to thrive or grow well) · it prosperare (to prosper or fare well) · ca florir (to thrive or grow well) · it fiorire (to thrive or grow well) · de blühen (to prosper or fare well) · cs mít vliv (to be in a period of greatest influence) · io florifar (to thrive or grow well) · mi pāhautea (to thrive or grow well) · is dafna (to thrive or grow well) · nl opbloeien (to prosper or fare well) · nl zwaaien (to make bold, sweeping movements) · de kulminieren (to be in a period of greatest influence) · hy ծաղկել (to prosper or fare well) · nl gedijen (to prosper or fare well) · de eine Blütezeit erleben (to prosper or fare well) · pt florescer (to thrive or grow well) · cs rozmachovat se (to make bold, sweeping movements) · eo flori (to be in a period of greatest influence) · hi उभरना (to thrive or grow well) · cs prosperovat (to prosper or fare well) · es florescer (to thrive or grow well) · la floreō (to prosper or fare well) · ru разма́хивать (to make bold, sweeping movements) · fr fleurir (to be in a period of greatest influence) · uk кві́тнути (to prosper or fare well) · ro înflori (to thrive or grow well) · is dafna (to prosper or fare well) · nb florere (to thrive or grow well) · ja 栄える (to prosper or fare well) · de gestikulieren (to make bold, sweeping movements) · de schwenken (to make bold, sweeping movements) · de eine Blütezeit haben (to be in a period of greatest influence) · it crescere (to thrive or grow well) · it fiorire (to make bold, sweeping movements) · nn bløma (to thrive or grow well) · bg вирея (to thrive or grow well) · cs vzkvétat (to thrive or grow well) · pt florescer (to prosper or fare well) · fr fleurir (to prosper or fare well) · de aufblühen (to prosper or fare well) · eo disflori (to prosper or fare well) · nl floreren (to thrive or grow well) · hi उभरना (to prosper or fare well) · es medrar (to thrive or grow well) · fr brandir (to make bold, sweeping movements) · ang þēon (to be in a period of greatest influence) · nl floreren (to be in a period of greatest influence) · de einen Höhepunkt erreichen (to be in a period of greatest influence) · uk процвіта́ти (to thrive or grow well) · de grünen (to thrive or grow well) · kk толықсу (to thrive or grow well) · es florecer (to thrive or grow well) · hi पनपना (to prosper or fare well) · oc florir (to prosper or fare well) · da trives (to thrive or grow well) · nb svinge (to make bold, sweeping movements) · ca florir (to prosper or fare well) · ang þēon (to prosper or fare well) · nl bloeien (to thrive or grow well) · da florere (to thrive or grow well) · kk гүлдену (to thrive or grow well) · eo disflori (to thrive or grow well) · de gedeihen (to thrive or grow well) · nl wuiven (to make bold, sweeping movements) · nb blomstre (to prosper or fare well) · ro prospera (to prosper or fare well) · es florescer (to prosper or fare well) · ru процвета́ть (to thrive or grow well) · it svilupparsi (to thrive or grow well) · is blómstra (to prosper or fare well) · mi whakapuāwai (to prosper or fare well) · uk цвісти́ (to prosper or fare well) · mi whakakakapa (to make bold, sweeping movements) · de aufblühen (to be in a period of greatest influence) · enm floryschen (to make bold, sweeping movements) · kk көркею (to thrive or grow well) · bg размахвам (to make bold, sweeping movements) · uk процвіта́ти (to prosper or fare well) · cs dopadat (to be in a period of greatest influence) · hy ծաղկել (to thrive or grow well) · fi kukoistaa (to thrive or grow well)