v., -ished, -ishing, -ishes.
v.intr.
- 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.
To wield, wave, or exhibit dramatically.
n.- 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.
[Middle English florishen, from Old French florir, floriss-, from Vulgar Latin *flōrīre, from Latin flōrēre, to bloom, from flōs, flōr-, flower.]
flourisher flour'isher n.SYNONYMSflourish, brandish, wave. These verbs mean to swing back and forth boldly and dramatically: flourished her newly signed contract; brandish a sword; waving a baton.
