flour·ish
(flûŕĭsh, flŭŕ-)
[Middle English florishen, from Old French florir, floriss-, from Vulgar Latin* flōrīre, from Latin flōrēre, to bloom, from flōs, flōr-, flower.]
verb: -ished, -ish·ing, -ish·es.
intransitive verb
- To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive: The crops flourished in the rich soil.
- To do or fare well; prosper: “No village on the railroad failed to flourish” (John Kenneth Galbraith)
- To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence, or influence: a poet who flourished in the tenth century.
- To make bold, sweeping movements: The banner flourished in the wind.
transitive verb
- To wield, wave, or exhibit dramatically.
noun
- A dramatic or stylish movement, as of waving or brandishing: “A few … musicians embellish their performance with a flourish of the fingers” (Frederick D. Bennett)
- An embellishment or ornamentation: a signature with a distinctive flourish.
- An ostentatious act or gesture: a flourish of generosity.
- Music A showy or ceremonious passage, such as a fanfare.
derivatives
- flouŕish·er
- noun
synonyms:
flourish, brandish, wave These verbs mean to swing back and forth boldly and dramatically: flourished her newly signed contract; brandish a sword; waving a baton.
