King James Bible Dictionary

FLOW'ER, noun [Latin flos, floris, a flower; floreo, to blossom. See Flourish.]

1. In botany, that part of a plant which contains the organs of fructification, with their coverings. A flower when complete, consists of a calyx, corol, stamen and pistil; but the essential parts are the anther and stigma, which are sufficient to constitute a flower either together in hermaphrodite flowers, or separate in male and female flowers.

2. In vulgar acceptation, a blossom or flower is the flower bud of a plant, when the petals are expanded; open petals being considered as the principal thing in constituting a flower But in botany, the petals are now considered as a finer sort of covering, and not at all necessary to constitute a flower

3. The early part of life, or rather of manhood; the prime; youthful vigor; youth; as the flower of age or of life.

4. The best or finest part of a thing; the most valuable part. The most active and vigorous part of an army are called the flower of the troops. Young, vigorous and brave men are called the flower of a nation.

5. The finest part; the essence.

The choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more briefly contain.

6. He or that which is most distinguished for any thing valuable. We say, the youth are the flower of the country.

7. The finest part of grain pulverized. In this sense, it is now always written flour, which see.

1. Flowers, in chimistry, fine particles of bodies, especially when raised by fire in sublimation, and adhering to the heads of vessels in the form of a powder or mealy substance; as the flowers of sulphur.

A substance, somewhat similar, formed spontaneously, is called efforescence.

2. In rhetoric, figures and ornaments of discourse or composition.

3. Menstrual discharges.

FLOW'ER, verb intransitive [from the noun. The corresponding word in Latin is floreo.]

1. To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant. In New England peach trees usually flower in April, and apple trees in May.

2. To be in the prime and spring of life; to flourish; to be youthful, fresh and vigorous.

When flowered my youthful spring.

3. To froth; to ferment gently; to mantle, as new beer.

The beer did flower a little.

4. To come as cream from the surface.

FLOW'ER, verb transitive To embellish with figures of flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers.

FLOW'ER-DE-LIS, noun

1. In heraldry, a bearing representing a lily, the hieroglyphic of royal majesty.

2. In botany, the Iris, a genus of monogynian trianders, called also flag-flower, and often written incorrectly flower-de-luce. The species are numerous.

FLOW'ERED, participle passive Embellished with figures of flowers.

FLOW'ERET, noun A small flower; a floret.

[In botany, floret is solely used.]

FLOW'ER-FENCE, noun The name of certain plants. The flower-fence of Barbados is of the genus Poinciana. The bastard flower-fence is the Adenanthera.

FLOW'ER-G'ARDEN, noun A garden in which flowers are chiefly cultivated.

FLOW'ER-GENTLE, noun A plant, the amaranth.

FLOW'ERINESS, noun [from flowery.]

1. The state of being flowery, or of abounding with flowers.

2. Floridness of speech; abundance of figures.

FLOW'ERING, participle present tense

1. Blossoming; blooming; expanding the petals, as plants.

2. Adorning with artificial flowers, or figures of blossoms.

FLOW'ERING, noun

1. The season when plants blossom.

2. The act of adorning with flowers.

FLOWER-INWO'VEN, adjective Adorned with flowers.

FLOW'ER-KIRTLED, adjective Dressed with garlands of flowers.

FLOW'ERLESS, adjective Having no flower.

Very few species of flowers are mentioned in the Bible although they abounded in Palestine. It has been calculated that in Western Syria and Palestine from two thousand to two thousand five hundred plants are found, of which about five hundred probably are British wild-flowers. Their beauty is often alluded to (Song of Solomon 2:12; Matthew 6:28). They are referred to as affording an emblem of the transitory nature of human life (Job 14:2; Psalms 103:15; Isaiah 28:1; 40:6; James 1:10). Gardens containing flowers and fragrant herbs are spoken of (Song of Solomon 4:16; 6:2).

See Botany
Botany

FLOW'ER-STALK, noun In botany, the peduncle of a plant, or the stem that supports the flower or fructification.

FLOW'ERY, adjective

1. Full of flowers; abounding with blossoms; as a flowery field.

2. Adorned with artificial flowers, or the figures of blossoms.

3. Richly embellished with figurative language; florid; as a flowery style.