All 5 Uses of
flourish
in
The Merchant of Venice
- Flourish of cornets.
Scene 2.1 *flourish = a showy gesture (in this case fanfare played by the musical instrument)editor's notes: In Shakespeare's plays, flourish is often used as a stage direction indicating a specific type of showy gesture: fanfare played by trumpets or cornets to announce the entry or exit of royalty.
- [Flourish of cornets†
Scene 2.7
- Flourish of cornets.]†
Scene 2.7
- [Flourish of cornets†
Scene 2.9
- Then music is Even as the flourish when true subjects bow To a new-crowned monarch; such it is As are those dulcet sounds in break of day That creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear And summon him to marriage.†
Scene 3.2 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(flourish as in: the business is flourishing) to thrive (grow or develop well)
-
(2)
(flourish as in: dismissed them with a flourish) a showy gesture
or:
the act of waving -- a hand or an item -
(3)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) In Shakespeare's plays, flourish is often used as a stage direction indicating a specific type of showy gesture: fanfare played by trumpets or other horns to announce the entry or exit of royalty.
Check a comprehensive dictionary for other senses including some that are of interest to musicians.