Definition of flowery

The word "flowery" has its roots in Old English and Middle English. In Old English, the term "flōr" referred to a flower, and the suffix "-y" was added to create the adjectival form "flōry", meaning "of flowers" or "flowery". This adjectival form conveyed a sense of abundance, beauty, and fragrance. In Middle English (circa 11th to 15th centuries), the word "flowery" retained its connection to flowers, but its meaning expanded to encompass a sense of elaborate or ornate language. For example, a flowery oratory was one that was overly ornate and decorated with excessive linguistic embellishments. Over time, the primary sense of "flowery" returned to its original botanical meaning, with the word typically describing something that is adorned with or characterized by flowers. Today, "flowery" is often used to describe language, writing, or conversation that is rich in poetic or ornate language.