Link Centre Dictionary

supple

US/ˈsʌpəl/ uncommon
adjective (3) verb (1)

adjective

1.
2.

(used of e.g. personality traits) readily adaptable

  • “a supple mind”
  • “a limber imagination”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

(used of persons'' bodies) capable of moving or bending freely

Synonyms
Similar

verb

1.

make pliant and flexible

  • “These boots are not yet suppled by frequent use”

Origin

From Middle English souple, from Old French souple, soupple (“soft, lithe, yielding”), from Latin supplic-, supplex (“suppliant, submissive, kneeling”), of uncertain formation. Either from sub + plicō (“bend”) (compare complex), or from sub + plācō (“placate”). More at sub-, placate.

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.