Flower

King James Dictionary

FLOW'ER, n. L. 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, from the noun. The corresponding word in L. 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, To embellish with figures of flowers to adorn with imitated flowers.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) The fairest, freshest, and choicest part of anything; as, the flower of an army, or of a family; the state or time of freshness and bloom; as, the flower of life, that is, youth.

(2): ( n.) That part of a plant destined to produce seed, and hence including one or both of the sexual organs; an organ or combination of the organs of reproduction, whether inclosed by a circle of foliar parts or not. A complete flower consists of two essential parts, the stamens and the pistil, and two floral envelopes, the corolla and callyx. In mosses the flowers consist of a few special leaves surrounding or subtending organs called archegonia. See Blossom, and Corolla.

(3): ( n.) A figure of speech; an ornament of style.

(4): ( n.) Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc.

(5): ( n.) In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant; the showy portion, usually of a different color, shape, and texture from the foliage.

(6): ( n.) Grain pulverized; meal; flour.

(7): ( n.) A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation; as, the flowers of sulphur.

(8): ( n.) Menstrual discharges.

(9): ( v. i.) To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant; to produce flowers; as, this plant flowers in June.

(10): ( v. i.) To come into the finest or fairest condition.

(11): ( v. i.) To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer.

(12): ( v. i.) To come off as flowers by sublimation.

(13): ( v. t.) To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers; as, flowered silk.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Ἄνθος (Strong'S #438 — Noun Neuter — anthos — anth'-os )

"a blossom, flower" (used in certain names of flowers), occurs in  James 1:10,11;  1—Peter 1:24 (twice).

B — 1: Ὑπέρακμος (Strong'S #5230 — Adjective — huperakmos — hoop-er'-ak-mos )

"past the bloom of youth" (from huper, "beyond," and akme, "the highest point of anything," the full bloom of a flower: Eng., "acme"), is used in  1—Corinthians 7:36 , "past the flower of her age;" Lightfoot prefers the rendering "of full age."

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Exodus 25:33 (b) By this figure is represented the beauty of the testimony of the church, of the individual Christian, and of the Holy Spirit. Those who testify to the things of GOD should live beautiful lives and thus exemplify the doctrine. (See  Exodus 37:19;  1 Kings 6:18).

 Job 14:2 (a) Man's birth is thus compared to the development of the flower. After certain processes the full bloom appears. First there is the development of the bud in various stages, and finally the full bloom.

 Job 15:33 (a) In this way the Lord describes the failure of the hypocrite to succeed in life, and to develop into that which GOD would like him to be.

 Isaiah 18:5 (a) In this way GOD describes the destruction of Egypt in her industries and in her efforts to build up a world-wide power.

 Isaiah 28:1-4 (a) This is a promise from GOD that He will destroy the beauty of Israel, the cities, villages, valleys and fields because of their evil doings.

 Isaiah 40:6-8 (a) This word is used to describe man's best works, and his greatest achievements. (See also  James 1:10-11;  1 Peter 1:24).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(usually some form of the kindred roots צוּוֹ and נָצִוֹ , to Glitter, and hence To Blossom; Sept. and N.T. Ἄνθος ) , a generic term, not designating any particular species. — Flowers grow in great variety and abundance in Palestine, and from the month of January to May the groves and meadows are adorned with the blossoms of different species of wild plants. Travellers have noticed different species of anemone, ranunculus, crocus, tulip, narcissus, hyacinth, lily, violet, aster, pink, iris, asphodel, daffodil, crowfoot, wind-flower, willow-herb, hyssop, dragon-wort, periwinkle, squill, the spiked veronica, white clover, and a flower resembling the hollyhock, and several others, which, by their variety and multitude, perfume the air, and yield a very lovely prospect. The rose of Sharon, which is not properly a rose, but a cistus, white or red, grows abundantly; also the rose of Jericho, though not properly so, grows spontaneously, particularly near the Dead Sea and the Jordan. The celebrated henna plant abounds in several places. With the jasmine, as well as with the vine, the people ornament the alleys and the arbors of their gardens. Burckhardt noticed the pretty red flower of the nomen plant, which abounds in all the valleys of Sinai, and is also seen among the most barren granitic rocks of the mountains (See Tyas, Flowers Of Holy Land, Lond. n. d.). (See Palestine).

Flowers in the Bible are not treated from a scientific point of view. Very few species are mentioned; and, although their beauty is once or twice alluded to in descriptive passages (sometimes under the general terms — "grass," Matthew 6:38;  Song of Solomon 2:12;  Song of Solomon 5:13), they are seldom introduced, except in the single pathetic analogy which they afford to the transitory life and glory of mankind ( Job 14:2;  Psalms 103:15;  Isaiah 28:1;  Isaiah 40:6;  James 1:10;  1 Peter 1:24). (See Botany). The ancient Egyptians were exceedingly fond of flowers, and they are often represented on the monuments (see Wilkinson, 1:19, 37, 57, 78, 141, 257, etc.). Gardens גִּנַּוֹת , פִּרְדֵס , גִּנַּים , Παράδεισοι ) were in use among Orients from the earliest times ( Genesis 13:10);  Deuteronomy 11:12, etc.); but, although they were planted with flowers and fragrant herbs ( Song of Solomon 6:2;  Song of Solomon 4:16), often chosen for their beauty and rarity ( Isaiah 17:10), yet they appear to have been chiefly cultivated for useful and culinary purposes ( Jeremiah 29:5;  Song of Solomon 6:11;  Song of Solomon 4:13;  Deuteronomy 8:8, etc.). (See Garden).