supple

sup·ple

Use supple in a sentence

adjective

The definition of supple is someone or something that bends and moves easily and gracefully.

The fluid and graceful movements of a dancer are an example of something that would be described as supple.

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"supple." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/supple>.

APA Style

supple. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/supple

supple

adjective

-·pler, -·plest

easily bent or twisted; flexible; pliant
able to bend and move easily and nimbly; lithe; limber: a supple body
easily changed or influenced
adaptable, as to changes: a supple mind

Origin of supple

Middle English souple from Old French from Classical Latin supplex, humble, submissive, akin to supplicare: see supplicate

transitive verb

intransitive verb

-·pled, -·pling

to make or become supple

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"supple." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/supple>.

APA Style

supple. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/supple

supple

adjective

sup·pler, sup·plest

Readily bent, folded, or manipulated; pliant: a wallet made of supple leather. See Synonyms at flexible.
Moving and bending with agility; limber: a supple gymnast.
Adaptable to changing circumstances: “The supple ambiguities of English are a large part of its genius” ( Mark Abley )

tr. & intr.v.

sup·pled, sup·pling, sup·ples

To make or become supple.

Origin of supple

Middle English souple from Old French from Latin supplex suppliant ; see plāk-¹ in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

sup′ple·ness
noun

sup′ply sup′ple·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"supple." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/supple>.

APA Style

supple. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/supple

Adjective

(comparative suppler, superlative supplest)

pliant, flexible, easy to bend
lithe and agile when moving and bending
supple joints; supple fingers
compliant; yielding to the will of others
a supple horse

Verb

(third-person singular simple present supples, present participle suppling, simple past and past participle suppled)

To make or become supple.
To make compliant, submissive, or obedient.

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 + plicÅ (“bend") (compare complex), or from sub + plÄcÅ (“placate"). More at sub-, placate.