▪ I. ˈflowering, vbl. n.
[f. flower v. + -ing1.]
1. The action of the vb. flower in various senses. a. The putting forth of flowers or blossom; coming into flower, blooming.
| 1629 Parkinson (title) Paradisus in Sole..or a choise Garden of..Flowers, with their Nature, place of Birth, time of flowring [etc.]. 1865 Kingsley Herew. xv. 185 She regretted the lengthening of the days and the flowering of the primroses. 1882 Garden 21 Jan. 34/1 Any dwarf growing annuals would also answer for a second flowering. |
| fig. 1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. iv. 119 She placed her whole joy in the flowering of this gifted nature. |
b. The action of adorning with flowers, or with figures of flowers.
| 1739 J. Coats Dict. Her. (ed. 2) s.v. Flory, Fleury, Flory, Fleurty, Floretty..signify different Ways of Flowering. 1848 Craig, Flowering..the act of adorning with flowers. |
2. concr. or quasi-concr. † a. collect. Blossoms. † b. Effervescence; frothiness. † c. Efflorescence or superficial growth. d. pl. Figures of flowers. e. (See quot. 1867).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 10726 (Cott.) Þis wand suld fluring bere þat suld o rote o iesse spring. 1626 Bacon Sylva §312 The Spirits..become Dull, and the Drinke dead, which ought to haue a little Flouring. 1634 T. Johnson Parry's Chirurg. iii. iii. 88 A certaine drie flouring, or production of the true skinne. 1864 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. (1865) IV. xii. vii. 171 His dressing-gown, a grand yellow silky article with silver flowerings. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Flowering, the phenomenon observed usually in connection with the spawning of fish, at the distance of four leagues from shore. The water appears to be saturated with a thick jelly, filled with the ova of fish. |
3. attrib.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xvi. 31 Þe flesshe is a fel wynde, and in flourynge-tyme Þorw lykyng and lustes so loude he gynneth blowe. 1870 Hooker Stud. Flora 300 Primula scotica..has three flowering seasons. 1879 O. W. Holmes Motley i. 5 The..‘flowering time of Authorship’. |
▪ II. flowering, ppl. a.
(ˈflaʊərɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That flowers, in various senses.
1. a. That is in bloom; b. that bears flowers or blossoms.
| a. 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie 143 Worldly triumphs are like to flowering gras. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 272 Mark well the flowring Almonds in the Wood. |
| b. 1745 R. Pococke Descr. East (1889) II. 141 Clumps of evergreen and flowering plants. 1818 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life II. xi. 30 The luxury of that fresh, growing, perfume, a flowering shrub in full bloom. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. i. v. 53 Each flower [of Wheat] is enclosed between a flowering-glume and a pale. 1884 Rita Vivienne i. i, A broad white road..bordered..by flowering chestnuts. |
c. Often in plant-names; as flowering ash, flowering box, flowering currant, flowering fern, etc. (see the ns.).
† 2. Flourishing, vigorous; that is in one's bloom or prime. flowering age, flowering life, flowering youth: the bloom or prime of age, life, or youth. Obs.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 6259 The gode thought and the worching, That maketh religioun flowring. a 1450 Fysshynge with Angle (1883) 1 A glad spirit maket a flowryng age. 1558 T. Phaer æneid vii. V ij b, The bodies twayne Of Almon, flouring lad, and good Galesus fouly slayne. 1586 Warner Alb. Eng. ii. x. 41 The one was in her flowring age, the other too too old. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. v. 56 That cause..that..hath detayn'd me all my flowring Youth, Within a loathsome Dungeon. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iii. iii. (1651) 327 'Tis no dishonour..for a flouring man, City, or State to come to ruine. |
3. Covered with or abounding in flowers or figures of flowers; = flowery. Also, pertaining to or issuing from flowers.
| 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii, i. 228 The Snake, roll'd in a flowring Banke. 1642 H. More Song of Soul i. i. lvii, This floting flouring changeable array. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 293 Groves of Myrrhe, And flouring Odours. 1871 R. Ellis Catullus lxi. 91 A flowering Garden, trimm'd for a lord's delight. |