Definition of flow from

The phrase "flow from" is a prepositional phrase that communicates a cause-effect relationship between two ideas. The word "flow" in this context means to move or proceed in a continuous and steady stream or manner. The verb "from" is a preposition that expresses the source or origin of something. The origin of the phrase "flow from" dates back to Middle English when it evolved from the Old English phrase "floogan" which means to grow or increase. This usage gradually transformed into "flownen" during the 13th century where it signified to flow or march in procession. Later on, in the late 16th century, "flow" appeared as a noun meaning a stream or quantity of liquid, and "from" came to indicate the source or origin of this liquid. The literary renditions of John Donne in the 17th century exemplify the literary use of "flow from" to describe a causal relationship between two events. He used the phrase "flow from" in his poem "A Hymn to Christ at His First Coming" published in 1611, signifying that peace would flow from Christ's march. Since then, "flow from" has gained widespread usage in various contexts such as scientific discourse, literary analysis, and technical writing to convey information on how one event, action, or object transitions into another. Sometimes it is even contracted into the single word "flows" in colloquial usage.