Can anybody tell me if there a single word which has the meaning 'to grow and flourish'?
Asked
Active
Viewed 1.6k times
3
-
Literally? Metaphorically? – Peter Taylor Dec 16 '11 at 15:28
-
I think growish is a nice word. – apaderno Dec 16 '11 at 15:29
-
4'Prosper' might serve. – Barrie England Dec 16 '11 at 15:34
-
5Have you looked in an online thesaurus for 'grow' or 'flourish'? – Mitch Dec 16 '11 at 16:43
-
Yes, @BarrieEngland - Live long and prosper – Izkata Dec 16 '11 at 20:19
-
We're really trying to avoid using this site for "single word requests." If you have a particularly interesting problem to solve, all we ask is that you put a bit of effort and research into the question. See: http://meta.english.stackexchange.com/questions/1654/against-single-word-requests/1737#1737 or http://meta.english.stackexchange.com/questions/2160/single-word-requests-crosswords-and-the-fight-against-mediocrity – Robert Cartaino Dec 19 '11 at 17:46
4 Answers
4
How about bloom / blossom ?
Wishwas
- 137
-
Bloom/blossom usually imply a "metamorphosis" into a more pleasing form, but OP's grow and flourish suggest he's looking more for the thrive connotations. – FumbleFingers Dec 16 '11 at 17:15
3
Flourish
- to be in a vigorous state; thrive: a period in which art flourished.
- to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.
- to be successful; prosper.
- to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.
Christopher Rayl
- 1,426
-
I think that's a bit of a sly answer. You might as well have suggested OP's other word - grow. – FumbleFingers Dec 16 '11 at 17:16
-
I see your point, but he's looking for a single word, it just so happens that he already has it. – Christopher Rayl Dec 16 '11 at 18:32
-
Indubitably. So I should be justified in putting up "grow" to collect a bit more rep! Seriously, I think flourish truly is the best word from OP's point of view. He knows the word, and it means what he wants to say, which are seriously good reasons for using words. But thrive has all that and more (not least, alliteration with "thrust"), so - no disrespect - I hope you don't mind if I cast my vote for "Ma Man" @tenfour. (I'm confident your day will come! :) – FumbleFingers Dec 17 '11 at 00:16
-
...Just to say that @tenfour had another well-deserved hit with clunky, though I really wish he'd go back there and delete the totally worthless "unintuitive". – FumbleFingers Dec 17 '11 at 00:20
-
0
Evolve
It kind of sounds scientific but I don't think it is inartistic as a word, if that is what you are going for.
or
Mature
I think it is pretty acceptable to think that as time passes by certain tastes of our mature and become more refine.
Although, I am not sure if any of these words really cover the 'flourish' part of your requirements.
Mallow
- 596