figure vs flourish

figure

verb
  • To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. 

  • To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. 

  • To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. 

  • To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem. 

  • To enter into; to be a part of. 

  • To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon. 

  • To embellish. 

  • To come to understand. 

  • To be reasonable. 

noun
  • A visible pattern as in wood or cloth. 

  • A number, an amount. 

  • A drawing or diagram conveying information. 

  • A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body. 

  • A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment. 

  • The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. 

  • A figure of speech. 

  • The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person. 

  • A person or thing representing a certain consciousness. 

  • A numeral. 

  • A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. 

  • Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression. 

  • The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body. 

  • A shape. 

  • Any complex dance moveᵂ. 

flourish

verb
  • To adorn with beautiful figures or rhetoric; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish. 

  • To thrive or grow well. 

  • To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion. 

  • To make bold, sweeping movements with. 

  • To be in a period of greatest influence. 

  • To prosper or fare well. 

  • To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions. 

  • To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude. 

  • To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures. 

  • To develop; to make thrive; to expand. 

noun
  • A ceremonious passage such as a fanfare. 

  • An ornamentation. 

  • A dramatic gesture such as the waving of a flag. 

  • A decorative embellishment on a building. 

How often have the words figure and flourish occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )