flowery

CEFRC1

/ˈflaʊəɹi/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

01
adjective
Covered with flowers or using many decorative words.
02
adjective
Extra detail
Decorated with or abundant in flowers.

Examples

Mary wore a flowery skirt.
No flowery path guides to glory.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses: 5
Parts of speech: 1
Citations: 5
Synonyms: 3

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

Of a speech or piece of writing: overly complicated or elaborate; with grandiloquent expressions; marked by rhetorical elegance.
Pertaining to or characteristic of flowers.
Melodramatic, overexaggerated.

More examples

In context

At last she reached a flowery knoll, at whose feet ran a little burn, shaded with woodbine and wild roses; and there she sat down, burying her face in her hands.
He kissed her hand in a way she found just a little flowery.
Poppies make very showy floweries and should be planted lightly in the spots where they are intended to be grown.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Her dress had a blank print, covered with tiny pink and yellow blossoms.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Citations

The word in print, with each source given in full.

At last she reached a flowery knoll, at whose feet ran a little burn, shaded with woodbine and wild roses; and there she sat down, burying her face in her hands.
1879, William Henderson, Notes on the folk-lore of the northern counties of England and the borders
“Sir you are mistaken—I am not——.” But before he could say ‘a girl,’ this ancient period-strumpet of a bedizened man (upon a pattern drawn from a time of swords and silk, when men were in their floweriest scent—savagely tattooed with braid—intoxicated with their own snuff—forever on tiptoe—disgusted with the mannish—wooing Woman after the fashion of women) burst in and silenced him, […]
1930, Wyndham Lewis, “Dan at the Assembly”, in The Apes of God, New York, N.Y.: Robert M[edill] McBride & Company, published 1932, →OCLC, part XII (Lord Osmund’s Lenten Party), page 464
My accusers, then, as I maintain, have said little or nothing that is true, but from me you shall hear the whole truth; not, I can assure you, gentlemen, in flowery language like theirs, decked out with fine words and phrases; […]
1954, Plato, translated by Hugh Tredennick, “Socrates on Trial: The Apology”, in The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin Classics), Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, →OCLC, page 19
Although flowery actions are used in the plays of the 1890s, waving arms, wringing hands, and pleading with outstretched arms would be unsuitable in plays about modern life.
1972, Miriam A[nna] Franklin, “Use of Hands and Feet”, in Rehearsal: The Principles and Practice of Acting for the Stage, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, →ISBN, part II (Sharpening Theater Tools), chapter 4 (Language of Action), page 60
“Miss, it would be my great pleasure to escort you and your uncle to supper this evening.” Sasha stifled her desire to roll her eyes at his flowery actions, but the fact that he omitted inviting Jim irritated her.
2007, Vickie McDonough, “A Wealth Beyond Riches”, in Oklahoma Brides: Dreams Come Full Circle in Three Prairie Romances, Uhrichsville, Okla.: Barbour Publishing, published [2008], →ISBN, chapter 7, page 275

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Origin

adjective

From Middle English floury, equivalent to flower + -y (adjectival suffix). Piecewise doublet of floury.

Deep Dive

adjective

More examples

Related

Quick test

Her dress had a blank— print, covered with tiny pink and yellow blossoms.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

Her dress had a blank print, covered with tiny pink and yellow blossoms.