floresco Latin · revision 34400

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=116–27 BC, Varro|origins=ine-pro *bʰleh₃-ōs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [fɫoːˈreːs.koː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [floˈrɛs.ko]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''flōrēscō''' (present infinitive flōrēscere); third conjugation, no passive, no perfect or supine stems^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an inchoative verb, [[der|la|flōreō|t=to bloom]], formed with [[m|la|-ēscō]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014) De Vaan lists both verbs among the derivatives of [[m|la|flōs|t=flower]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*flōs]] and [[ine-pro|*bʰleh₃-ōs|t=blossoming]].^(de Vaan 2008) He compares [[sga|bláth|t=flower, bloom]], [[goh|bluowen]] and [[ang|blōwan|t=to bloom]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan first finds it in Varro,^(de Vaan 2008) who writes of plants before they put out buds and begin to flower (''flōrēscere incipiant'').^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to begin to [[m|en|blossom]]: Cicero tells of dried pennyroyal that flowers on the winter [[m|en|solstice]] itself, and the Praenestine calendar names Flora as the goddess who presides over things that flower.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016) Lucretius uses it of bodies growing in vigour as others age.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Figuratively it means to [[m|en|flourish]] in fame or fortune: Cicero speaks of Hortensius' rise and of a man now first coming into bloom, and Pliny the Younger is glad that his native place flourishes.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Medieval writers used it of plants blooming and of things shining in beauty or growing strong.^(MLW) It lives on in Spanish [[m|es|florecer]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of plants beginning to flower.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of bodies growing in vigour.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a man rising in fame.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # (of plants) To begin to [[m|en|flower]], come into blossom.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To grow in physical vigour, approach one's prime.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To [[m|en|flourish]], grow in fame or prosperity.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inflōrēscō]]

+ * [[superflōrescō]]

+ * [[reflōrescō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}