[OE. blóstmian, ME. blosme(n, f. prec. sb. Cf. Du. bloesemen, and BLOOM v., FLOWER v.]
1. intr. To put forth blossoms, bloom, flower.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, V. xii. (Bosw.). Ðæs blostmiendan feldes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 218. Though I be hoor I fare as dooth a tree That blosmeth er þat fruyt ywoxen bee.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 40. Blomyn, or blosmyn.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, A ij b. Whan it begynneth to blossome.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iv. 383. Fruites that blossome first, will first be ripe.
1704. Pope, Spring, 42. Now hawthorns blossom, now the daisies spring.
1864. Tennyson, En. Ard., 587. Huge trees that branch’d And blossom’d in the zenith.
1882. Vines, Sachs’ Bot., 935. Parasites and saprophytes … which vegetate below and blossom above ground.
2. transf. and fig.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 140. Sithen þei blosmed obrode · in boure to here shriftes.
1388. Wyclif, Ps. lxxi[i]. 16. Thei schulen blosme [1382 floure] fro the citee, as the hey of erthe doith.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. ii. 353. This is the state of Man; to day he puts forth The tender Leaues of hopes, to morrow Blossomes, And beares his blushing Honors thicke vpon him.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. I. 458. ’Tis Beauty always in the Flowre That buds and blossoms at fourscore.
1847. Longf., Ev., I. iii. One by one … Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.
b. Const. into.
1852. Longf., Gold. Leg., I. 28. They make the dark and dreary hours Open and blossom into flowers.
1884. Manch. Exam., 27 Oct., 5/3. The historic craft of the barber … has blossomed into an art.
