ˈhigh-flown, a.
[f. high adv. + flown pa. pple. of fly v.]
† 1. Soaring high; carrying things to a high pitch; elevated; elated. In quot. a 1656, Intoxicated, ‘elevated’. Obs.
| 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lii. (1739) 93 As yet oppression was not so high-flown. a 1656 Ussher Ann. vi. (1658) 112 The king, being somewhat high flowen with drink. a 1668 Denham Prudence 42 Nor high-flown hopes to Reason's lure descend. 1702 Steele Funeral ii. i. 35 We..have nothing at all, of all this High-Flown Fury. 1842 C. Brontë in Mrs. Gaskell Life xi. (1857) I. 257 In a high-flown humour, he forbade me to use either dictionary or grammar. |
2. Of sentiments, language, style, etc.: Extravagant, hyperbolical; bombastic.
| 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 324 In his high-flown conceits. 1672–5 T. Comber Comp. Temple (1702) 38 He is..noted for his high flown style. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 77 Such are the high-flown expressions of Prudentius. 1874 L. Stephen Hours in Library (1892) II. v. 156 Sentiments, which are occasionally too high-flown and overstrained. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. I. xiv. 192 A piece of elaborate and highflown declamation. |
† 3. Of persons: Extreme in opinion or party feeling, esp. in support of claims of authority in church or state. Cf. high-flyer 3. Obs.
| 1672 Wood Life (O.H.S.) I. 146 He was a high-flone Cavalier. 1681 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 124 The former [party] are called by the latter, tories, tantivies..high flown church⁓men, &c. 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. ii. viii. 86 You see, old Highflown Beau! of whom they learnt. |