[f. as prec. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FLOURISH in various senses.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 881.
| Every ȝere at þe florysyngge | |
| When þe vynys shuldë spryngge. |
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 15. Nouȝt sotilte of sentence, noþer faire florischynge of wordes, but swetnesse of deuocion of þe matire schal regne in þis book.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 83 b. It must be digged before his florishing, or shooting out of his leaves, for as immediatly therewithal he beginneth to thrust out his fruite.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong., Regratement de vieilles choses … the flourishing vp of old thinges.
1687. T. W., trans. Hen. VIII’s Assertio Septem Sacram. (1688), 8. These two Chapters … are … but the Flourishings or first Essays of Luther, who now begins to murther and destroy the Sacraments.
1717. Berkeley, Tour Italy, Wks. 1871, IV. 531. All the shafts of single pieces of granite, which shews the building to have been very ancient, before the flourishing of arts in Rome.
1865. Trollope, Belton Estate, viii. 83. The business was put on foot at once, and with some little flourishing at the commencement, Captain Aylmer made his speech;—the same speech which we have all heard and read so often, specially adapted to the meridian of Perivale.
2. In various concr. or quasi-concr. senses. † a. Blossom, also fig. b. A decoration, an embellishment; a flower-like design. c. nonce-use. An ornamental covering.
a. a. 1300. Cursor M., 10726 (Gött.). Þis wand suld florisching bere.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxv. 13. Haile, ȝhyng, benyng, fresche flurising! [Virgin Mary; but perh. ppl. a.].
b. c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 211.
| Hit nedeth noght yow for to tellen, | |
| To make yow to longe dwellen, | |
| Of this yates florisshinges, | |
| Ne of compasses, ne of kervinges. |
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Draperie, A flourishing with leaues, and flowers in wood, or stone, vsed especially on the heads of pillers.
1613. T. Godwin, Rom. Antiq. (1658), 28. Garment bestudded with flourishings of purple silk in manner of broad naile heads.
1665. Pepys, Diary, 26 Dec. Saw some fine writing-work and flourishing of Mr. Hoare.
1847. C. Winston, Anc. Glass Paint., I. 125. Many attempts were made to strengthen the shadows with a hatching of thin lines, sometimes as thin and fine as a hair, and in representations of architecture with a flourishing of thin lines.
c. 1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., II. xviii.
| It cover’d stands with silken flourishing, | |
| Which as it oft decaies, renews again, | |
| The other’s sense and beautie perfecting; | |
| Which els would feel, but with unusual pain. |
3. = FUMISHING. rare–1.
1726. Dict. Rusticum (ed. 3), s.v. Hart-hunting.… He may also observe his flourishings, which are in proportion to the Beast.
4. attrib. and Comb., as flourishing hand; flourishing thread (see quot.).
1713. Steele, Guardian, No. 1, 12 March, ¶ 1. Mr. Airs, that excellent penman, has taken care to affix his own image opposite to the title-page of his learned treatise, wherein he instructs the youth of his nation to arrive at a flourishing hand.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, Flourishing Thread, a flat, silky, linen thread specially adapted for mending Damask, Linen, [etc.].
