Dictionary entry

Flourish (2)

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Flour″ish, v. t. 1. To adorn with flowers orbeautiful figures, either natural or artificial; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish. Fenton.

2. To embellish with the flowers of diction; to adorn with rhetorical figures; to grace with ostentatious eloquence; to set off with a parade of words.

Sith that the justice of your title to him

Doth flourish the deceit. Shak.

3. To move in bold or irregular figures; to swing about in circles or vibrations by way of show or triumph; to brandish.

And flourishes his blade in spite of me. Shak.

4. To develop; to make thrive; to expand.

Bottoms of thread... which with a good needle, perhaps may be flourished into large works. Bacon.