Flourish

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: flour=ish

CIDE DICTIONARY

Flourish, v. i. [OE. florisshen, flurisshen, OF. flurir, F. fleurir, fr. L. florere to bloom, fr. flos, floris, flower. See Flower, and -ish.].

•  To grow luxuriantly; to increase and enlarge, as a healthy growing plant; a thrive.  [1913 Webster]

  "A tree thrives and flourishes in a kindly . . . soil."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be prosperous; to increase in wealth, honor, comfort, happiness, or whatever is desirable; to thrive; to be prominent and influental; specifically, of authors, painters, etc., to be in a state of activity or production.  [1913 Webster]

  "When all the workers of iniquity do flourish."  [1913 Webster]

  "Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness."  [1913 Webster]

  "We say
  Of those that held their heads above the crowd,
  They flourished then or then."  [1913 Webster]
•  To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions; to be flowery.  [1913 Webster]

  "They dilate . . . and flourish long on little incidents."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion.  [1913 Webster]

  "Impetuous spread
  The stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures.  [1913 Webster]
•  To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude.  [1913 Webster]

  "Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To boast; to vaunt; to brag.  Pope.  [1913 Webster]

Flourish, v. t. 

•  To adorn with flowers orbeautiful figures, either natural or artificial; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish.  Fenton.  [1913 Webster]
•  To embellish with the flowers of diction; to adorn with rhetorical figures; to grace with ostentatious eloquence; to set off with a parade of words.  [1913 Webster]

  "Sith that the justice of your title to him
  Doth flourish the deceit."  [1913 Webster]
•  To move in bold or irregular figures; to swing about in circles or vibrations by way of show or triumph; to brandish.  [1913 Webster]

  "And flourishes his blade in spite of me."  [1913 Webster]
•  To develop; to make thrive; to expand.  [1913 Webster]

  "Bottoms of thread . . . which with a good needle, perhaps may be flourished into large works."  [1913 Webster]

Flourish, n. 

•  A flourishing condition; prosperity; vigor.  [1913 Webster]

  "The Roman monarchy, in her highest flourish, never had the like."  [1913 Webster]
•  Decoration; ornament; beauty.  [1913 Webster]

  "The flourish of his sober youth
  Was the pride of naked truth."  [1913 Webster]
•  Something made or performed in a fanciful, wanton, or vaunting manner, by way of ostentation, to excite admiration, etc.; ostentatious embellishment; ambitious copiousness or amplification; parade of words and figures; show; as, a flourish of rhetoric or of wit.  [1913 Webster]

  "He lards with flourishes his long harangue."  [1913 Webster]
•  A fanciful stroke of the pen or graver; a merely decorative figure.  [1913 Webster]

  "The neat characters and flourishes of a Bible curiously printed."  [1913 Webster]
•  A fantastic or decorative musical passage; a strain of triumph or bravado, not forming part of a regular musical composition; a cal; a fanfare.  [1913 Webster]

  "A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums!"  [1913 Webster]
•  The waving of a weapon or other thing; a brandishing; as, the flourish of a sword.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Flourish, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. a grow vigorously; thrive. b prosper; be successful. c be in one's prime. d be in good health.
2 intr. (usu. foll. by in, at, about) spend one's life; be active (at a specified time) (flourished in the Middle Ages) (cf. FLORUIT). 3 tr. show ostentatiously (flourished his cheque-book).
4 tr. wave (a weapon, one's limbs, etc.) vigorously.
--n.
1 an ostentatious gesture with a weapon, a hand, etc. (removed his hat with a flourish).
2 an ornamental curving decoration of handwriting.
3 a florid verbal expression; a rhetorical embellishment.
4 Mus. a a fanfare played by brass instruments. b an ornate musical passage. c an extemporized addition played esp. at the beginning or end of a composition.
5 archaic an instance of prosperity; a flourishing.

Derivative

flourisher n. flourishy adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF florir ult. f. L florere f. flos floris flower

THESAURUS

Flourish

acciaccatura, adjunct, adorn, adornment, advertise, affect, air, amplify, appoggiatura, arabesque, arrangement, arrive, asiaticism, augment, batten, be energetic, be somebody, be something, be vigorous, bear fruit, beauties, betoken, blazon, blazon forth, bloom, blossom, blow, bluster, boast, bonus, boom, brag, brandish, brandishing, bravura, breathe, brew, brilliancy, bring forth, bring forward, bring into view, bring out, bring to maturity, bring to notice, bud, burgeon, burst forth, burst with energy, burst with health, cadence, cadenza, color, color patterns, coloratura, colors, colors of rhetoric, come to fruition, convolute, curlicue, cut a dash, cut a figure, dangle, daring, dash, decor, decorate, decoration, demonstrate, demonstration, develop, device, disclose, display, division, divulge, do well, dramatics, dramatize, draw the longbow, eclat, elaborate, elaboration, elegant variation, embellish, embellishment, emblazon, emblazonment, emblazonry, embody, embroider, embroidery, enact, enjoy good health, enrich, etalage, euphuism, evidence, evince, exhibit, exhibition, exhibitionism, expand, expose to view, express, extempore, extra, extra added attraction, extra dash, false front, fanfare, fanfaronade, fare well, fatten, feel fine, feel good, festoon, figurative language, figurativeness, figure, figure of speech, filigree, filling, fillip, fine writing, fioritura, flair, flap, flash, flaunt, flaunting, flight, float, floridity, floridness, flourishing, flower, flower arrangement, floweriness, flowers of speech, flowery style, flutter, fly, frill, fructify, furbelow, furniture arrangement, garnish, garnishment, garniture, gasconade, gather, gemmate, germinate, gesturing, get ahead, gild, give sign, give token, gleam, glitter, glow, go, go great guns, grace, grace note, grow, grow fat, grow rank, grow up, have energy, highlight, histrionics, hold up, hot lick, hypertrophy, illuminate, illumination, image, imagery, impromptu, improvisation, in full swing, incarnate, incidental, incidental note, increase, indicate, interpolation, involve, keep fit, lagniappe, leaf, leaf out, leave, lick, live, load with ornament, long mordent, lushness, luxuriance, luxuriate, make a figure, make a splash, make clear, make good, make out, make plain, manifest, manifestation, manner of speaking, materialize, maturate, mature, mean, mellow, mordent, multiply, mushroom, never feel better, nonliterality, nonliteralness, ornament, ornamentation, outgrow, overcharge, overdevelop, overflow with energy, overgrow, overlay, overload, overrun, overtop, padding, pageant, pageantry, parade, passage, perform, pralltriller, premium, present, procreate, produce, prosper, puff, pullulate, purple passage, purple patches, put forth, put forth leaves, put forward, put out buds, reach its season, reach maturity, represent, reproduce, reveal, riff, riot, ripe, ripen, roll out, root, roulade, run, score, set forth, shake, shaking, sham, shine, shoot, shoot up, show, show forth, showiness, showing-off, single mordent, something extra, speak for Buncombe, spectacle, splash, splurge, sport, spotlight, spring up, sprout, sprout up, staginess, stay in shape, stay young, strike root, stuffing, succeed, superaddition, swagger, swing, swish, take root, theatrics, thrive, token, tower, trick out, trim, trimming, trope, trot out, trumpet, trumpet forth, turn, turn of expression, twirl, twist, undulate, undulation, unfold, upshoot, upspear, upspring, upsprout, vamp, vapor, varnish, vaunt, vegetate, wag, wave, wave motion, waving, wax, way of speaking, wear well, wield, wigwag, window dressing, wrinkle

ROGET THESAURUS

Flourish

Ornament

N ornament, floridness c, adj, turgidity, turgescence, altiloquence, declamation, teratology, well-rounded periods, elegance, orotundity, inversion, antithesis, alliteration, paronomasia, figurativeness, flourish, flowers of speech, flowers of rhetoric, frills of style, euphuism, euphemism, big-sounding words, high-sounding words, macrology, sesquipedalia verba, Alexandrine, inflation, pretension, rant, bombast, fustian, prose run mad, fine writing, sesquipedality, Minerva press, phrasemonger, euphuist, euphemist, ornament, beautified, ornate, florid, rich, flowery, euphuistic, euphemistic, sonorous, high-sounding, big-sounding, inflated, swelling, tumid, turgid, turgescent, pedantic, pompous, stilted, orotund, high flown, high flowing, sententious, rhetorical, declamatory, grandiose, grandiloquent, magniloquent, altiloquent, sesquipedal, sesquipedalian, Johnsonian, mouthy, bombastic, fustian, frothy, flashy, flaming, antithetical, alliterative, figurative, artificial, ore rutundo, ornament, ornamentation, ornamental art, ornature, ornateness, adornment, decoration, embellishment, architecture, jewelry, garnish, polish, varnish, French polish, veneer, japanning, lacquer, gilding, plating, ormolu, enamel, cloisonn_e, cosmetics (in general), makeup, eye shadow, rouge, face powder, lipstick, blush, pattern, diaper, powdering, paneling, graining, pargeting, detail, repousse (convexity), texture, richness, tracery, molding, fillet, listel, strapwork, coquillage, flourish, fleur-de-lis, arabesque, fret, anthemion, egg and tongue, egg and dart, astragal, zigzag, acanthus, cartouche, pilaster, bead, beading, champleve ware, cloisonne ware, frost work, Moresque, Morisco, tooling, embroidery, brocade, brocatelle, galloon, lace, fringe, trapping, border, edging, trimming, hanging, tapestry, arras, millinery, ermine, drap d'or, wreath, festoon, garland, chaplet, flower, nosegay, bouquet, posy, daisies pied and violets blue, tassel knot, shoulder knot, apaulette, epaulet, aigulet, frog, star, rosette, bow, feather, plume, pompom, panache, aigrette, finery, frippery, gewgaw, gimcrack, tinsel, spangle, clinquant, pinchbeck, paste, excess of ornament, gaud, pride, illustration, illumination, vignette, fleuron, head piece, tail piece, cul-de-lampe, flowers of rhetoric, work of art, ornamented, beautified, ornate, rich, gilt, begilt, tesselated, festooned, champleve, cloisonne, topiary, smart, gay, trickly, flowery, glittering, new gilt, new spangled, fine as a Mayday queen, fine as a fivepence, fine as a carrot fresh scraped, pranked out, bedight, well-groomed, in full dress, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, dressed to advantage, in Sunday best, en grand tenue, en grande toilette, in best bib and tucker, endimanche, showy, flashy, gaudy, garish, gairish, gorgeous, ornamental, decorative, becoming, ornament, floridness c, adj, turgidity, turgescence, altiloquence, declamation, teratology, well-rounded periods, elegance, orotundity, inversion, antithesis, alliteration, paronomasia, figurativeness, flourish, flowers of speech, flowers of rhetoric, frills of style, euphuism, euphemism, big-sounding words, high-sounding words, macrology, sesquipedalia verba, Alexandrine, inflation, pretension, rant, bombast, fustian, prose run mad, fine writing, sesquipedality, Minerva press, phrasemonger, euphuist, euphemist, ornament, beautified, ornate, florid, rich, flowery, euphuistic, euphemistic, sonorous, high-sounding, big-sounding, inflated, swelling, tumid, turgid, turgescent, pedantic, pompous, stilted, orotund, high flown, high flowing, sententious, rhetorical, declamatory, grandiose, grandiloquent, magniloquent, altiloquent, sesquipedal, sesquipedalian, Johnsonian, mouthy, bombastic, fustian, frothy, flashy, flaming, antithetical, alliterative, figurative, artificial, ore rutundo, ornament, ornamentation, ornamental art, ornature, ornateness, adornment, decoration, embellishment, architecture, jewelry, garnish, polish, varnish, French polish, veneer, japanning, lacquer, gilding, plating, ormolu, enamel, cloisonn_e, cosmetics (in general), makeup, eye shadow, rouge, face powder, lipstick, blush, pattern, diaper, powdering, paneling, graining, pargeting, detail, repousse (convexity), texture, richness, tracery, molding, fillet, listel, strapwork, coquillage, flourish, fleur-de-lis, arabesque, fret, anthemion, egg and tongue, egg and dart, astragal, zigzag, acanthus, cartouche, pilaster, bead, beading, champleve ware, cloisonne ware, frost work, Moresque, Morisco, tooling, embroidery, brocade, brocatelle, galloon, lace, fringe, trapping, border, edging, trimming, hanging, tapestry, arras, millinery, ermine, drap d'or, wreath, festoon, garland, chaplet, flower, nosegay, bouquet, posy, daisies pied and violets blue, tassel knot, shoulder knot, apaulette, epaulet, aigulet, frog, star, rosette, bow, feather, plume, pompom, panache, aigrette, finery, frippery, gewgaw, gimcrack, tinsel, spangle, clinquant, pinchbeck, paste, excess of ornament, gaud, pride, illustration, illumination, vignette, fleuron, head piece, tail piece, cul-de-lampe, flowers of rhetoric, work of art, ornamented, beautified, ornate, rich, gilt, begilt, tesselated, festooned, champleve, cloisonne, topiary, smart, gay, trickly, flowery, glittering, new gilt, new spangled, fine as a Mayday queen, fine as a fivepence, fine as a carrot fresh scraped, pranked out, bedight, well-groomed, in full dress, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, dressed to advantage, in Sunday best, en grand tenue, en grande toilette, in best bib and tucker, endimanche, showy, flashy, gaudy, garish, gairish, gorgeous, ornamental, decorative, becoming.

Speech

VB speak of, say, utter, pronounce, deliver, give utterance to, utter forth, pour forth, breathe, let fall, come out with, rap out, blurt out have on one's lips, have at the end of one's tongue, have at the tip of one's tongue, break silence, open one's lips, open one's mouth, lift one's voice, raise one's voice, give the tongue, wag the tongue, talk, outspeak, put in a word or two, hold forth, make a speech, deliver a speech, speechify, harangue, declaim, stump, flourish, recite, lecture, sermonize, discourse, be on one's legs, have one's say, say one's say, spout, rant, rave, vent one's fury, vent one's rage, expatiate, speak one's mind, go on the stump, take the stump, soliloquize, tell, speak to, talk together, be eloquent, have a tongue in one's head, have the gift of the gab, pass one's lips, escape one's lips, fall from the lips, fall from the mouth.

Health

VB be in health, bloom, flourish, keep body and soul together, keep on one's legs, enjoy good health, enjoy a good state of health, have a clean bill of health, return to health, recover, get better, take a new lease of life, fresh lease of life, recruit, restore to health, cure, tinker.

Prosperity

VB prosper, thrive, flourish, be prosperous, drive a roaring trade, do a booming business, go on well, go on smoothly, go on swimmingly, sail before the wind, swim with the tide, run smooth, run smoothly, run on all fours, rise in the world, get on in the world, work one's way, make one's way, look up, lift one's head, raise one's head, make one's fortune, feather one's nest, make one's pile, flower, blow, blossom, bloom, fructify, bear fruit, fatten, keep oneself afloat, keep one's head above water, hold one's head above water, land on one's feet, light on one's feet, light on one's legs, fall on one's legs, fall on one's feet, drop into a good thing, bear a charmed life, bask in the sunshine, have a good time of it, have a fine time of it, have a run of luck, have the good fortune, to, take a favorable turn, live on the fat of the land, live off the fat of the land, live in clover.

Repute

VB be conscious of glory, be proud of, exult, be vain of, be distinguished, shine, shine forth, figure, cut a figure, make a dash, make a splash, rival, surpass, outshine, outrival, outvie, outjump, emulate, eclipse, throw into the shade, cast into the shade, overshadow, live, flourish, glitter, flaunt, gain honor, acquire honor, play first fiddle, bear the palm, bear the bell, lead the way, take precedence, take the wall of, gain laurels, win laurels, gain spurs, gain golden opinions, take one's degree, pass one's examination, make a noise, make some noise, make a noise in the world, leave one's mark, exalt one's horn, blow one's horn, star it, have a run, be run after, come into vogue, come to the front, raise one's head, enthrone, signalize, immortalize, deify, exalt to the skies, hand one's name down to posterity, consecrate, dedicate to, devote to, enshrine, inscribe, blazon, lionize, blow the trumpet, crown with laurel, confer honor on, reflect honor on, shed a luster on, redound, to one's honor, ennoble, give honor to, do honor to, pay honor to, render honor to, honor, accredit, pay regard to, dignify, glorify, sing praises to, lock up to, exalt, aggrandize, elevate, nobilitate.

Ostentation

N ostentation, display, show, flourish, parade, etalage, pomp, array, state, solemnity, dash, splash, splurge, glitter, strut, pomposity, pretense, pretensions, showing off, fuss, magnificence, splendor, coup d'oeil, grand doings, coup de theatre, stage effect, stage trick, claptrap, mise en scene, tour de force, chic, demonstration, flying colors, tomfoolery, flourish of trumpets, pageant, pageantry, spectacle, exhibition, exposition, procession, turn out, set out, grand function, f=ete, gala, field day, review, march past, promenade, insubstantial pageant, dress, court dress, full dress, evening dress, ball dress, fancy dress, tailoring, millinery, man millinery, frippery, foppery, equipage, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, form, formality, etiquette, puncto, punctilio, punctiliousness, starched stateliness, stateliness, mummery, solemn mockery, mouth honor, attitudinarian, fop, ostentatious, showy, dashing, pretentious, janty, jaunty, grand, pompous, palatial, high-sounding, turgid gairish, garish, gaudy, gaudy as a peacock, gaudy as a butterfly, gaudy as a tulip, flaunting, flashing, flaming, glittering, gay, splendid, magnificent, sumptuous, theatrical, dramatic, spectacular, ceremonial, ritual, solemn, stately, majestic, formal, stiff, ceremonious, punctilious, starched, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, decjed out, all decked out, en granite tenue, in best bib and tucker, in Sunday best, endimanch_e, chic, with flourish of trumpet, with beat of drum, with flying colors, ad captandum vulgus, honores mutant mores.

Boasting

N boasting, boast, vaunt, crake, pretense, pretensions, puff, puffery, flourish, fanfaronade, gasconade, blague, bluff, gas, highfalutin, highfaluting, hot air, spread-eagleism, brag, braggardism, bravado, bunkum, buncombe, jactitation, jactancy, bounce, venditation, vaporing, rodomontade, bombast, fine talking, tall talk, magniloquence, teratology, heroics, Chauvinism, exaggeration, vanity, vox et praeterea nihil, much cry and little wool, brutum fulmen, exultation, gloriation, glorification, flourish of trumpets, triumph, boaster, braggart, braggadocio, Gascon, fanfaron, pretender, soi-disant, blower, bluffer, Foxy Quiller, blusterer, charlatan, jack-pudding, trumpeter, puppy, boasting, magniloquent, flaming, Thrasonic, stilted, gasconading, braggart, boastful, pretentious, soi-disant, vainglorious, highfalutin, highfaluting, spread- eagle, elate, elated, jubilant, triumphant, exultant, in high feather, flushed, flushed with victory, cock-a-hoop, on stilts, vaunted, vauntingly, let the galled jade wince, facta non verba.

VB boast, make a boast of, brag, vaunt, Puff, show off, flourish, crake, crack, trumpet, strut, swagger, vapor, blague, blow, four-flush, bluff, exult, crow, crow over, neigh, chuckle, triumph, throw up one's cap, talk big, se faire valoir, faire claquer son fouet, take merit to oneself, make a merit of, sing Io triumphe, holloa before one is out of the wood.

Oscillation

VB oscillate, vibrate, librate, alternate, undulate, wave, rock, swing, pulsate, beat, wag, waggle, nod, bob, courtesy, curtsy, tick, play, wamble, wabble, dangle, swag, fluctuate, dance, curvet, reel, quake, quiver, quaver, shake, flicker, wriggle, roll, toss, pitch, flounder, stagger, totter, move up and down, bob up and down, pass and repass, ebb and flow, come and go, vacillate, teeter, brandish, shake, flourish.

Agitation

VB be agitated, shake, tremble, tremble like an aspen leaf, quiver, quaver, quake, shiver, twitter, twire, writhe, toss, shuffle, tumble, stagger, bob, reel, sway, wag, waggle, wriggle, wriggle like an eel, dance, stumble, shamble, flounder, totter, flounce, flop, curvet, prance, cavort, squirm, throb, pulsate, beat, palpitate, go pitapat, flutter, flitter, flicker, bicker, bustle, ferment, effervesce, foam, boil, boil over, bubble up, simmer, toss about, jump about, jump like a parched pea, shake like an aspen leaf, shake to its center, shake to its foundations, be the sport of the winds and waves, reel to and fro like a drunken man, move from post to pillar and from pillar to post, drive from post to pillar and from pillar to post, keep between hawk and buzzard, agitate, shake, convulse, toss, tumble, bandy, wield, brandish, flap, flourish, whisk, jerk, hitch, jolt, jog, joggle, jostle, buffet, hustle, disturb, stir, shake up, churn, jounce, wallop, whip, vellicate.

Exaggeration

VB exaggerate, magnify, pile up, aggravate, amplify, overestimate, hyperbolize, overcharge, overstate, overdraw, overlay, overshoot the mark, overpraise, make over much, over the most of, strain, strain over a point, stretch, stretch a point, go great lengths, spin a long yarn, draw with a longbow, shoot with a longbow, deal in the marvelous, out-Herod Herod, run riot, talk at random, heighten, overcolor, color highly, color too highly, broder, flourish, color, puff.