n. 25B6; verb
ferns flourish in the shade : GROW, thrive, prosper, do well, burgeon, increase, multiply, proliferate; spring up, shoot up, bloom, blossom, bear fruit, burst forth, run riot.
the arts flourished : THRIVE, prosper, bloom, be in good health, be vigorous, be in its heyday; progress, make progress, advance, make headway, develop, improve; evolve, make strides, move forward (in leaps and bounds), expand; informal be in the pink, go places, go great guns, get somewhere.
he flourished the sword at them : BRANDISH, wave, shake, wield; swing, twirl, swish; display, exhibit, flaunt, show off.
die, wither, decline.