[a. F. efflorescence, as if ad. L. *efflōrescentia, f. efflōrescent-em, pr. pple. of efflōrescĕre to EFFLORESCE: see -ENCE.]
1. The process of producing flowers, or bursting into flower; the period of flowering.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 389. 104. The Spirit of the Plant, is disgested and refined, and seuered from the Grosser Iuyce, in the Efflorescence.
1869. Goulburn, Purs. Holiness, ii. 15. They are the blossom on the fruit-tree, an efflorescence which shows the tree’s vitality.
1870. Yeats, Nat. Hist. Comm., 117. The tendency to efflorescence in the trees of America … has encouraged their diffusion through Europe.
2. fig. A development like that of blossom; an abundant or ostentatious growth; the ‘flower’ of age, etc.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 40. His impertinent efflorescence of Rhetorick upon so mean Topicks.
1675. Evelyn, Terra (1729), 14. The pared-off Turf is the very fat, and Efflorescence of the Earth.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Evang., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 187. Lord, who in Efflorescence of thy Age Wouldst from the World thy Spirit disengage.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 141, ¶ 11. Mirth can never please, but as the efflorescence of a mind loved for its luxuriance.
1831. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), II. 284. Of Fable Literature this was the summer-tide and highest efflorescence.
1865. Lecky, Ration., II. vi. 265. That noble efflorescence of charity which marked the first ages of Christianity.
† 3. Color developed on the skin, either in the ordinary course of nature, or as the result of disease. Obs. in gen. sense.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VI. x. 330. A shadow or darke efflorescence in the outside.
1782. V. Knox, Ess. (1819), III. cxxxiii. 69. The hectic efflorescence on the countenance of an invalid.
b. Pathol. ‘A morbid redness, or rash of the skin’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., V. 152/2. There is a threefold difference of Efflorescences in the skin.
1783. J. C. Smyth, in Med. Commun., I. 149. The efflorescence on her arms [is] entirely gone.
1876. trans. Wagner’s Gen. Pathol., 135. In measles, infection reaches its greatest power during the eruptive stage and the stage of efflorescence.
4. Chem. The process of efflorescing, in various senses (see EFFLORESCE 2 a, b, c); also concr. the powdery deposit that is the result of this process.
1667. Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual., 326. To afford an efflorescence which … appear’d to be Vitriol.
1671. Kirkby, in Phil. Trans. (1672), VII. 4070. It [an inland sea, near Danzick] becomes … green in the midle with an hairy efflorescence.
1677. Plot, Nat. Hist. Oxfordsh., 62–3. Pyrites are nothing but the efflorescence of Minerals.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1714), Add. 10. We found under it Efflorescences of pure Salt.
1828. Steuart, Planter’s G., 189. The sulphate of iron is easily distinguished by an efflorescence of small white crystals.
1858. O. W. Holmes, De Sauty. Whitened round his feet the dust of efflorescence.
1886. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 183. [Nitrate of potassium] occurs as an efflorescence on the soil.
