Flourishing

Flourish Flour"ish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Flourished}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Flourishing}.] [OE. florisshen, flurisshen, OF. flurir, F. fleurir, fr. L. florere to bloom, fr. flos, floris, flower. See {Flower}, and {-ish}.] 1. 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. --Bp. Horne. [1913 Webster]

2. 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. --Ps. xcii 7 [1913 Webster]

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

We say Of those that held their heads above the crowd, They flourished then or then. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

3. 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. --J. Watts. [1913 Webster]

4. 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. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

5. To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures. [1913 Webster]

6. 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? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

7. To boast; to vaunt; to brag. --Pope. [1913 Webster]