喜樂美語

核心畫面

One way to picture it: a plant in exactly the right soil, throwing out leaves and blossoms — growth that has gone past merely surviving into showing itself off.

一株長在對的土裡的植物：水分、陽光、空間都剛剛好，於是它不只是活著，而是一路長開——枝葉展開、花整片綻放，長到連旁邊…更多收起一株長在對的土裡的植物：水分、陽光、空間都剛剛好，於是它不只是活著，而是一路長開——枝葉展開、花整片綻放，長到連旁邊經過的人都會多看一眼。這個字的根就是拉丁文的 flōs／flōrem「花」，所以它同時帶著兩層意思：一是「長得旺」，二是「長得看得見」。英文的 flourish 一直在這兩層之間走動：有時重點在旺盛，有時重點在那個引人注目的展開動作。

From the word’s history

From Latin flōrēre "to blossom", from flōs / flōrem "flower", via Old French florir (stem floriss-) — the same root as flower.

這個字從拉丁文 flōrēre（開花）來，字根是 flōs／flōrem（花），經古法文 florir（詞幹 floriss-）進入中古英語，和 flower 同源。所以「開花」不是比喻上的聯想，而是字面上的老意思：生意 flourish、植物 flourish、手一 flourish——全都是同一朵花在不同地方開。

Wiktionary, "flourish" (etymology: Middle English floryschen ← Old French florir ← Late Latin flōrīre ← Latin flōrēre ← flōrem "flower")

Three branches

長得旺盛：植物與事業都在開花

這一族最貼近字根本身：條件對了，東西就一路往上長。從植物的枝葉，延伸到生意、想法、活動這些看不見的東西——中文說「蓬勃」其實也是同一個植物比喻。

thrive, of a plant · verb · C2

To grow well and be very healthy, especially a plant or other living thing in the right place and conditions.

茂盛

瀟灑地一揮：讓人看見的那個動作

從「開花」的另一半意思長出來——花開不只是長大，還是攤開來被看見。這一族把重點放在那個引人注目的展開動作上，所以動詞的「揮舞」和名詞的「瀟灑一揮」都在這裡。

wave with a flourish · verb · C2

To wave something in your hand so that people notice it, often because you are proud or excited to show it.

揮舞

作品裡的華麗筆觸：收尾、樂段、花體字

從「瀟灑一揮」再走一步：手勢從動作變成留在成品上的裝飾。共同點是這些部分都不必要，但都是為了讓人注意而存在。

flourish, stylish finish · noun · C2

A special part of something that people notice, especially a strong finish.

華麗收尾

原始詞典資料17 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

flourishverb/ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/

  • 1

    To thrive or grow well.

    • The barley flourished in the warm weather.
    • 'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
  • 2

    To prosper or fare well.

    • The town flourished with the coming of the railway.
    • The cooperation flourished as the customers rushed in the business.
  • 3

    To be in a period of greatest influence.

    • His writing flourished before the war.
  • 4

    To develop; to make thrive; to expand.

    • But all that I ſhall ſay in this vvhole Argument, vvill be but like Bottomes of Thred, cloſe vvound vp, vvhich vvith a good Needle (perhaps) may be flouriſhed into large VVorkes.
  • 5

    To make bold, sweeping movements with.

    • They flourished the banner as they stormed the palace.
    • The squirrel flourished its fluffy tail about as an alarm signal after its narrow escape from the cat.
  • 6

    To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion.

    • Impetuous spread the stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head.
  • 7

    To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions.

    • They dilate […] and flourish long upon little incidents.
  • 8

    To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures.

另外 5 個記錄的用法
  • 9

    To adorn with beautiful figures or rhetoric; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish.

    • With shadowy verdure flourish'd high, A sudden youth the groves enjoy.
    • To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin, Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit.
  • 10

    To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude.

    • Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?
  • 11

    obsoleteTo boast; to vaunt; to brag.

  • 12

    archaicTo brandish (a weapon).

  • 13

    To be known to have been alive at a particular time or in a particular period, where one's birth and death dates are not known; to have been active during a specified period; floruit.

    • John Smith (flourished 1425-1432) was...

flourishnoun/ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/

  • 1

    A dramatic gesture such as the waving of a flag.

    • With many flourishes of the captured banner, they marched down the avenue.
    • This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship.
  • 2

    An ornamentation.

    • His signature ended with a flourish.
    • [B]revity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes[.]
  • 3

    entertainmentlifestylemusicA ceremonious passage such as a fanfare.

    • The trumpets blew a flourish as they entered the church.
    • [I]f he is a soldier in command, successes will be amplified, and the results of his campaigns announced with a flourish of trumpets.
  • 4

    architectureA decorative embellishment on a building.

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。