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Origin and history of thrive

thrive(v.)

late 12c., thriven, "to prosper, flourish; grow, increase, mature," from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse þrifask "to thrive," originally "grasp to oneself," probably reflexive of þrifa "to clutch, grasp, grip, take hold of" (compare Norwegian triva "to seize," Swedish trifvas, Danish trives "to thrive, flourish"), of unknown origin. Related: Thrived (or throve); thriving; thriven (as an adjective, "advanced in growth").

also from late 12c.

Entries linking to thrive

thriving(adj.)

"prosperous, successful," especially in business, c. 1600, present-participle adjective from thrive (v.). Related: Thrivingly.

thrift(n.)

c. 1300, "fact of thriving, condition of one who thrives," also "vigor, energy, power to grow, vitality;" also "prosperity, savings, profits, material gains," from Middle English thriven "to thrive" (see thrive), influenced by (or perhaps from) Old Norse þrift, variant of þrif "prosperity," from þrifask "to thrive."

The sense of "habit of saving, economy" is recorded by 1550s (thrifty in this sense is from 1520s; also see spendthrift). Thrift-shop, selling second-hand goods, often to aid charity, is attested by 1919. Thrift-store is by 1972.

throve

sometime past tense of thrive (v.).

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    c. 1300, "to blossom, grow" (intransitive), from Old French floriss-, stem of florir "to blossom, flower, bloom; prosper, flourish," from Latin florere "to bloom, blossom, flower," figuratively "to flourish, be prosperous," from flos "a flower" (from PIE root *bhel- (3) "to thriv
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