Word Study
brandish
CIDE DICTIONARY
brandish, v. t. [OE. braundisen, F. brandir, fr. brand a sword, fr. OHG. brant brand. See Brand, n. ].
- To move or wave, as a weapon; to raise and move in various directions; to shake or flourish. [1913 Webster]"The quivering lance which he brandished bright." [1913 Webster]
- To play with; to flourish; as, to brandish syllogisms. [1913 Webster]
brandish, n.
A flourish, as with a weapon, whip, etc. Tailer. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
brandish, v.tr. wave or flourish as a threat or in display.
Derivative
brandisher n.
Etymology
OF brandir ult. f. Gmc, rel. to BRAND
THESAURUS
brandish
advertise, affect, air, betoken, blazon forth, breathe, bring forth, bring forward, bring into view, bring out, bring to notice, dangle, demonstrate, develop, disclose, display, disport, divulge, dramatize, emblazon, embody, enact, evidence, evince, exhibit, expose, expose to view, express, flap, flash, flaunt, float, flourish, flutter, fly, give sign, give token, highlight, hold up, illuminate, incarnate, indicate, make clear, make plain, manifest, materialize, mean, parade, perform, present, produce, put forth, put forward, represent, reveal, roll out, set forth, shake, show, show forth, show off, sport, spotlight, swing, token, trot out, trumpet, trumpet forth, undulate, unfold, vaunt, wag, wave, wield, wigwagROGET THESAURUS
brandish
Ostentation
VB be ostentatious, come forward, put oneself forward, attract attention, star it, cut a figure, make a dash, make a splash, make a splurge, cut a dash, cut a splash, cut a splurge, figure, figure away, make a show, make a display, glitter, show off, show off one's paces, parade, march past, display, exhibit, put forward, hold up, trot out, hand out, sport, brandish, blazon forth, dangle, dangle before the eyes, cry up, proner, flaunt, emblazon, prink, set off, mount, have framed and glazed, put a good face upon, put a smiling face upon, clean the outside of the platter.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.For further exploring for "brandish" in Webster Dictionary Online