Etymology Map
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Flourish

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to grow or develop vigorously

Where does the word "flourish" come from? It comes from Latin florere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
florere
Latin · ancient
"to bloom"
from 'flos', flower
2
Stage 2 of 3
florir
Old French · medieval
"to blossom"
its stem 'floriss-' gave the English form
3
Stage 3 of 3
flourish
English · 1300s
"to bloom; to thrive"
the decorative sense, a flourish of the pen, came in the 1500s
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Read the full story

Flourish’s story begins in Latin: florere meant “to bloom.” From 'flos', flower. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as florir. Its stem 'floriss-' gave the English form. It reached English by 1300s as flourish. The decorative sense, a flourish of the pen, came in the 1500s. Today, flourish means to grow or develop vigorously.