[f. as prec. + -ING2.] That flourishes.
1. Budding or blossoming; hence, that grows vigorously or luxuriantly. Of a landscape: Verdant.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), v. 54. And the Gardyn is alweys grene and florisshing, alle the cesouns of the Zeer, als wel in Wyntre es in Somer.
1533. Coverdale, Ecclus. xiv. 18. All flesh shal fade awaye like grasse, & like a florishinge leaf in a grene tre.
1647. Cowley, Mistress, Tree, i.
| I Chose the flouri’shingst Tree in all the Park, | |
| With freshest Boughs, and fairest head; | |
| I cut my Love into his gentle Bark, | |
| And in three days, behold ’tis dead. |
1783. Cowper, Rose, ii.
| The cup was all filled, and the leaves were all wet, | |
| And it seemed, to a fanciful view, | |
| To weep for the buds it had left with regret | |
| On the flourishing bush where it grew. |
1883. R. Zimmermann, in Athenæum, 29 Dec., 847/2. He makes use of a melancholy background, one of the tragic catastrophes that caused the destruction of populous towns and flourishing landscapes by the sea breaking in over the land.
2. Prosperous, thriving, conspicuous, eminent.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, ix. 20. Thorgh him be þai put in tyll synn in þi syght, þof þai seme florischand bifor men.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 156.
| Hungestus sone, callit Occa to name, | |
| Wyss into weir and fluresand in fame. |
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. 179. This is a flourishing City by reason it is a thoroughfair for all imported or exported Goods and Treasure, to and from all parts of Peru and Chili, whereof their Store-houses are never empty.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. I. 19. Hortensius, the most florishing young Orator at the bar, was a volunteer in it the first year, and commanded a regiment the second.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 615. Belfast has become one of the greatest and most flourishing seats of industry in the British isles.
3. Vigorous; in the bloom of youth or health. † Flourishing age, years: the prime of life.
1562. Winȝet, Cert. Tractates, iii. Wks. 1888, I. 23. That maist flurissand part of my aige, spent in the teching of the grammar scule of Linlychtquow.
1564. Bullein, Dial. agst. Pest., To the Reader (1888), 3. Some other are preuented by death in their flourishyng yeres, which is the crosse of death haue their onely consolation in Jesus Christe.
a. 1568. Coverdale, Bk. Death, III. x. 296. The thirde [dieth] in his florishynge youth, whan he fyrst delyteth to lyue, falleth away as a bewtiful rose.
1600. W. Vaughan, Direct. Health (1633), 23. It [Meath] will cause one to haue a flourishing colour.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Wars, VI. ix. § 2. Together with those whom they had orders to slay, they slew the aged and the infirm; but, for those that were in their flourishing age, and who might be useful to them, they drove them together into the temple.
4. Of writing: Ornamented with flourishes.
1859. Sala, Gas-light & D., iii. 37. As per flourishing gold letters on his door-jamb, he proposes to lend money on plate, jewellery, and valuables.
5. Of style, etc.: Florid, highly embellished, grandiloquent, high sounding. Also of a writer: Addicted to floridness.
1538. Leland, Itin., I. p. xix. Men of Eloquence hath not enterprised to set them forthe yn a florisching style.
1592. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 252. An irrefragable Confutation of Beza, and our floorishingest New-writers, aswell in diuinitie, as in humanitie.
1788. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, June. He … spoke in flourishing terms of its contrast to former times.
6. Of persons and their actions: Boasting, swaggering, ostentatious.
1616. Rich Cabinet, 57. All sorts of people thought it the greatest glory to liue in the florishingest showe.
1688. Wood, Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), III. 287. A conceited flurishing coxcombe.
† 7. Of a spear: Vibrating. Obs.
1388. Wyclif, Job xli. 20. He schal scorne a florischynge [1382, shakende] spere.
