Middle English Dictionary Entry

flǒur n.(1)
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Entry Info

Forms flǒur n.(1) Also flur, flor, flouer, floer, floyer. Pl. floures, flours, flowers.
Etymology OF flour, flor, flur.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) The blossom of a plant, flower; also, a flowering plant; feld ~, wild flower; (b) ~ and fruit, gras and ~, lef and ~, etc.; (c) the emblem of one of two parties among the devotees of courtly love (opposed by the party of the Leaf); lef or ~, etc; (d) ~ garlond, a garland of flowers; floures of hawethorn (violet), dishes colored or flavored with hawthorn blossoms (violets); floures of Proserpina, some kind of beautiful but evil-smelling flowers; water of floures, a medicine made of blossoms.
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1b.
flour-mongester, a woman who sells flowers.
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1c.
In fig. senses: (a) as the forerunner of fruit or of seed: the promise or expectation of, achievement; (b) as a symbol of transitoriness; (c) with reference to the Christ Child: scion; (d) of a beautiful woman; (e) of the Virgin Mary.
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2.
(a) A picture or image of a flower; flower-shaped branch of a candlestick [quot.: 1391]; (b) the fleur-de-lis; fig. in plural: the French, France; (c) fig. an ornament of the royal power or reputation; a moral or spiritual virtue; ironically: a vice [quot. Chaucer BD]; (d) virginity; ~ of maidenhede; (e) rhetorical embellishment; ~ of eloquence (rethorik), etc.
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3.
Blossoming time; fig. the prime of life, the height of one's glory or prosperity [ironically, quot.: c1395];--used attrib. [quot.Treat.Fish.]; ben (dwellen) in floures, to be famous or prosperous, to flourish.
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4.
(a) The prize, the victory; haven the ~, to win the victory; (b) beren (awei) the ~, to win the prize, to be victorious; to be the best (of a class of people, etc.), to excel.
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5.
(a) Of persons: the best, the most excellent; the best (of a class); ~ enditour, the greatest of writers; kinges ~, the best of kings; maiden ~, the best of maidens; moderes ~, best of mothers; worldes ~, the best in the world; (b) of things: the best (of its kind); ~ of floures, etc., the best of flowers, the best of the best (freq. epithet of the Virgin Mary); ~ of Fortunes yeving, the greatest prosperity that Fortune can give; ~ of ill ending, the worst possible fate; ~ of milk, the choicest part of the milk, cream; (c) of persons: the embodiment of an ideal; a model (of honor, courtesy, chivalry, patience, etc.); ~ of frendship, used of Christ; ~ of rethoric, the ideal rhetorician.
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6.
The menstrual flow; tim of floures, wommanes ~, etc.
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7.
As a personal name.
Show 5 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 115:Pope)628/113 : Monoþseocum: flures.
    • Note: Antedates sense 6.--per MP
  • (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)220b/b : Saffron..orientalis..bereþ a reed flour wiþ an heed as a violette and in þe myddil þerof þre floures oþer foure, and þe beste þerof be somdel reede oþer al rede, and þe whiteste schal be forsake.
    • Note: New sense
    Note: 1a. Add: (e) a stamen of the saffron crocus.
  • c1475(?a1440) Burgh Cato(1) (Rwl C.48)815 : Wher-as of moralite floures fayre And swete ful plesauntly, lo, dothe repeir.
    • Note: Perhaps a separate sense under 2. though this is a fig. use of literal flowers

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.11vb (1.4) : Womanes floures ar called in Latyn 'menstrua' (in Englissch: womannes euyl).
Note: Additional quot., sense 6.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. flowers (pl.).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 6.), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. woman's flowers (pl.).

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