reflowerv.
/riːˈflaʊə/, U.S. /ˌriˈflaʊər/ 1. intransitive. To flower or flourish again. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > be a flowering plant [verb (intransitive)] > flower or blossom > again
again-flowera1382
reflowerc1390
rebloom1606
reblossom1611
c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 59 Þat flesch boren was to dye, Þat flesch refloured [L. refloruit]..Of deþ þat hedde Maystrie.
1602 C. Sutton Disce Vivere xiv. 264 This flower withered for a time in his passion, but refloured more oriently in his resurrection.
a1618 J. Sylvester tr. St. Lewis in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 1074 Henry was made a Saint, before a King, Leauing his Brother (where His Best re-flowres) Sole Heire apparant to His Hopes and Ours.
1855 J. Ogilvie Suppl. Imperial Dict. Reflower, to flower again.
1878 A. C. Swinburne Poems & Ballads 2nd Ser. 178 Out of the herbs on the walls reflowering.
1893 D. C. Scott Magic House & Other Poems 27 The scourged and trampled here find peace to grow..And now they keep a crown reflowering on the tombs of kings.
1948 Times 28 Oct. 7/3 Honeysuckle, too, is reflowering in the hedges.
1977 Arab Times 13 Dec. 7/3 This technology has reflowered in the sports hall, where highly specialised surfaces are needed.
1985 Callaloo 23 40 Under what conditions can Black literature not only survive but continue to reflower and perennially send out its life-preserving, transformative, and sublime bloom?
1996 M. Champion in Compositional Bonbons Placate 37 The listless hyacinth..had reflowered unexpectedly.
2. transitive. To cause to flower or flourish again. Chiefly literary. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 387 As the Sommers sweet-distilling drops..doth the flowers re-flower [Fr. refleurir].
1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 63 Her sight re-flowers th' Arabian Wildernes.
a1649 W. Drummond Poems (1656) 161 To make Peace prosper, Justice to reflow'r.
1869 tr. V. Hugo Man who Laughs viii, in Appletons' Jrnl. 29 May 266/2 Nature comes to the rescue of all that is renounced… She reflowers and covers again with verdure all that has fallen down.
1951 W. C. Williams Paterson iii. ii. 143 The flame that wrapped the glass deflowered, reflowered there by the flame.
2002 Augusta (Georgia) Chron. (Nexis) 6 Dec. d10 Amaryllis can be reflowered successfully, and can be planted outdoors.
Derivatives
reˈflowered adj. (a) covered with flowers again; (b) made to flower again.
ΚΠ
1858 J. F. Corkran Hour Ago 214 Oh, pleasant will your meetings be on fresh reflowered places.
1907 E. Nesbit in Daily Chron. 19 Feb. 6/7 Hark to the sigh of the reflowered tomb: ‘Ah, live, live, live, for Spring goes by, goes by!’
1998 Roanoke (Va.) Times (Nexis) 26 Nov. nrv13 A reflowered poinsettia is usually of inferior quality to those purchased each year.
reˈflowering adj. and n. (a) adj. that flowers or flourishes again; (b) n. the action or an instance of flowering or flourishing again.
ΚΠ
1593 A. Chute Beawtie Dishonoured 41 Of my reflowring time, of my new being.
1877 A. C. Swinburne in Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 288 Like regent lilies of reflowering lands.
1950 Times 5 Oct. 8/6 An October reflowering of dog violets is not unusual.
2002 S. Germann in H. Schott Hist. Harpsichord IV. 55 The reflowering dead tree suggesting the rebirth of another dead tree into a singing musical instrument.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.c1390