flourish
[flur-ish, fluhr-]
- to be in a vigorous state; thrive: a period in which art flourished.
- to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.
- to be successful; prosper.
- to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.
- to make dramatic, sweeping gestures: Flourish more when you act out the king's great death scene.
- to add embellishments and ornamental lines to writing, letters, etc.
- to sound a trumpet call or fanfare.
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- to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with: a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.
- to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.
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- an act or instance of brandishing.
- an ostentatious display.
- a decoration or embellishment, especially in writing: He added a few flourishes to his signature.
- Rhetoric. a parade of fine language; an expression used merely for effect.
- a trumpet call or fanfare.
- a condition or period of thriving: in full flourish.
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Origin of flourish
1250–1300; Middle English florisshen < Middle French floriss-, long stem of florir ≪ Latin flōrēre to bloom, derivative of flōs flower
Synonyms
See more synonyms for flourish on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
1. fade, decline.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for flourish
Contemporary Examples
Her father gazes back at her happily, tips his hat, and bows with a flourish.
Knocking on Heaven's Door: True Stories of Unexplained, Uncanny Experiences at the Hour of DeathPatricia Pearson
August 11, 2014
This fact was revealed with a flourish during a Life Lesson on the importance of discretion, which is a story for another day.
Pretending and imaginative play also flourish, and imaginary friends are common companions to young schoolchildren.
Diagnosing Jane, Louis C.K.’s Troubled Daughter on ‘Louie’ Who Can’t Separate Dreams From RealityRussell Saunders
May 15, 2014
In 2006, he left LA with a flourish when the Tribune Co. demanded severe cuts in the newsroom and Baquet refused to make them.
Jill Abramson Fired from the Times: Was It About Money and Sexism—Or Management Style?Lloyd Grove
May 15, 2014
Despite starting with a flourish, that site has gone quiet in recent days as it undergoes a reorganization.
Guardian and WaPo Share Pulitzer: Snowden Hails Victory for “More Accountable Democracy”David Freedlander
April 14, 2014
Historical Examples
Emma finished the sleeve of the blouse she was mending with a flourish.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
With a flourish Katy seated him, and carried the packages to Linda.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
And the stranger, with a flourish of his hand, turned to the door.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Not of late years,' replied the Chief, with a flourish of his hand.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
When he had finished this epistle, Rigaud folded it and tossed it with a flourish at Clennam's feet.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
flourish
- (intr) to thrive; prosper
- (intr) to be at the peak of condition
- (intr) to be healthyplants flourish in the light
- to wave or cause to wave in the air with sweeping strokes
- to display or make a display
- to play (a fanfare, etc) on a musical instrument
- (intr) to embellish writing, characters, etc, with ornamental strokes
- to add decorations or embellishments to (speech or writing)
- (intr) an obsolete word for blossom
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- the act of waving or brandishing
- a showy gesturehe entered with a flourish
- an ornamental embellishment in writing
- a display of ornamental language or speech
- a grandiose passage of music
- an ostentatious display or parade
- obsolete
- the state of flourishing
- the state of flowering
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French florir, ultimately from Latin flōrēre to flower, from flōs a flower
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for flourish
v.
c.1300, "to blossom, grow," from Old French floriss-, stem of florir "blossom, flower, bloom, flourish," from Latin florere "to bloom, blossom, flower," figuratively "to flourish, be prosperous," from flos "a flower" (see flora).
Metaphoric sense of "thrive" is mid-14c. Meaning "to brandish (a weapon)" first attested late 14c. Related: Flourished; flourishing.
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n.
c.1500, "a blossom," from flourish (v.). Meaning "ostentatious waving of a weapon" is from 1550s; that of "literary or rhetorical embellishment" is from c.1600.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper