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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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.
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A tree thrives and flourishes in a kindly . . .
soil. --Bp. Horne.
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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.
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When all the workers of iniquity do flourish. --Ps.
xcii 7
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Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that
by the means of their wickedness. --Nelson.
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We say
Of those that held their heads above the crowd,
They flourished then or then. --Tennyson.
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3. To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures
and lofty expressions; to be flowery.
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They dilate . . . and flourish long on little
incidents. --J. Watts.
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4. To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements,
by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with
fantastic and irregular motion.
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Impetuous spread
The stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head.
--Pope.
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5. To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write
graceful, decorative figures.
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6. To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by
way of ornament or prelude.
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Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus? --Shak.
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7. To boast; to vaunt; to brag. --Pope.
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