[f. BLOOM v.1 + -ING2.]
1. That blooms, or is in flower.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 219. Old unthriving, or over-hastily blooming Trees.
1728. Thomson, Spring, 10. When Nature all Is blooming and benevolent.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, 3. Pots full of blooming balsams or geraniums.
2. fig. In the bloom of health and beauty, in the prime of youth; flourishing.
1675. Dryden, Aurengz., I. i. 77. That Character … Of Valour, which in blooming youth he gain’d.
1774. T. Blacklock, Graham, II. xiv. His blooming bride.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 329. Again England was given over; and again the strange patient persisted in becoming stronger and more blooming.
b. Of things: Flourishing, full of fair promise.
c. 1375. ? Barbour, St. Adrian, 232. His hart wes ful of bleumand blis.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. XI. 155. Their blooming hopes.
1684. Scanderbeg Rediv., i. 6. [He] gave in early Youth all the blooming Presages of a growing Hero.
c. Bright, shining.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. xv. 12. In broone sangwane weill dycht Abuf hys onkouth armour blomand brycht.
1830. Cunningham, Brit. Paint., I. 285. Who purchased blooming works, which were destined to fade in their possession.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VI. 129. Wan was her cheek With hollow watch, her blooming mantle torn.
† d. Of style: Florid, flowery. Obs.
1685. F. Spence, House Medici, 360. Machiavell … whose stile is so blooming and correct that it’s tax’d with being too finical and tawdry.
† 3. That produces blooms or blossoms, rare.
1587. Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 284. By meanes of heate mixt with the blooming raine.
1882. Macm. Mag., XLVI. 441/2. Oh, you blooming idiot!
1885. Scotsman, 20 Aug., 5/4. You asks me no bloomin’ imper’int questions, an’ I tells yer no bloomin’ lies.
5. Blooming Sally [i.e., sallow], a Willow-herb (Epilobium angustifolium, rarely E. hirsutum).
Hence Bloomingly adv., Bloomingness.
1831. Blackw. Mag., XXIX. 809. As bloomingly beautiful as at the time of her marriage.
1859. G. Meredith, Song of Courtesy, in Once a Wk., 9 July, I. 30. ‘Shall I live bloomingly?’ Said she.
1847. Craig, Bloomingness.
