flower (subs.) Copy link Outline I. Lit., a blossom1. flos, flōris, m.2. floscŭlus (strictly dimin. of preced.II. Fig., the best of any thing1. flos2. rōbur, ŏris, n. (the main strengthIII. Also fig., an embellishment; esp. in speech1. flos (in pl.)2. floscŭlus (in pl.)IV. Bloom, prime of age • flower (subs.): I. Lit., a blossom: 1. flos, flōris, m.: sweet smelling f.s, suaves f., Lucr.: fresh f.s, recentes f., Hor.: to gather f.s, flores legere, Ov. Fast. 4, 437; f. carpere, ib. 443 (v. to pluck, gather). 2. floscŭlus (strictly dimin. of preced.: more common in sense II.): they fade like f.s, tanquam flosculi decidunt, Cic. Off. 1, 12, 43. Further dimin., floscellus, Apul. Herb. Abounding in f.s, made of f.s, floreus, floridus: v. flowery. II. Fig., the best of any thing: 1. flos: the f. of the nobility and the youth, f. nobilitatis ac juventutis, Cic. Phil. 2, 15, 37: Liv. 2. rōbur, ŏris, n. (the main strength: esp. of troops): the f. of the troops has perished, quod fuit roboris interiit, Caes. B. C. 3, 88. Join: quod floris, quod roboris (fuerat), Liv. 37, 12; in flore vel robore, Cic. Or. 10, 34. III. Also fig., an embellishment; esp. in speech: 1. flos (in pl.): f.s of language and sentiment, flores verborum et sententiarum, Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 96. 2. floscŭlus (in pl.): to cull f.s from every quarter, f. undique carpere, Cic. Sext. 56, 119: to be charmed by the f.s of a novel luxuriance (in style), recentis hujus luxuriae flosculis capi, Quint. IV. Bloom, prime of age: flos: Lucr.: Cic. (f. aetatis is specially used of personal charms, cf. Liv. 21, 2): v. prime (subs.).