Flower, subst. (usually monosyll., but dissyll. in Lucr. 1227. Sonn. 124, 4. Mids. III, 2, 102. Caes. I, 1, 55). 1) the displayed bud of a plant: “women are as roses, whose fair f. being once displayed, doth fall that very hour,” Tw. II, 4, 39.
2) the expanded blossom with its stalk: Ven. 8. Ven. 8 Lucr. 870. Sonn. 65, 4. 94, 9. 124, 4. Compl. 75. Compl. 75 Tp. IV, 1, 78. Gentl. II, 4, 162. Wiv. V, 5, 66. Wiv. V, 5, 66 Meas. II, 2, 167. Mids. II, 1, 27. Mids. II, 1, 27 III, 2, 204 etc. etc. “maiden --s,” H8 IV, 2, 169 (see Maiden).
3) beauty: “shall ill become the f. of England's face, change the complexion of her maid-pale peace to scarlet indignation,” R2 III, 3, 97. “how she gins to blow into life's f. again,” Per. III, 2, 96.
4) one who is the ornament of his class: “this is the f. that smiles on every one,” LLL V, 2, 331. I am that f. (viz Hector) LLL V, 2, 331 “thou hast slain the f. of Europe for his chivalry,” H6C II, 1, 71. “he's one of the --s of Troy,” Troil. I, 2, 203. “come knights from east to west and cull their f., Ajax shall cope the best,” II, 3, 275. “f. of warriors,” Cor. I, 6, 32. “he's a f., in faith, a very f.” Rom. I, 3, 78. “he is not the f. of courtesy,” II, 5, 44. “f. as she was,” Rom. IV, 5, 37. V, 3, 12. cf. also II, 4, 62.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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