supple

[ suhp-uhl ]

adjective

, sup·pler, sup·plest.

1. bending readily without breaking or becoming deformed; pliant; flexible:

   a supple bough.

2. characterized by ease in bending; limber; lithe:

   supple movements.

3. characterized by ease, responsiveness, and adaptability in mental action.
4. compliant or yielding.
5. obsequious; servile.

verb (used with or without object)

, sup·pled, sup·pling.

1. to make or become supple.

supple

/ ˈsʌpəl /

adjective

1. bending easily without damage
2. capable of or showing easy or graceful movement; lithe
3. mentally flexible; responding readily
4. disposed to agree, sometimes to the point of servility

verb

1. rare.
   to make or become supple

Derived Forms

• ˈsuppleness, noun

Other Words From

• supple·ness noun
• un·supple adjective
• un·supple·ness noun
• un·supp·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of supple¹

1250–1300; (adj.) Middle English souple flexible, compliant < Old French: soft, yielding, lithe < Latin supplic- (stem of supplex ) submissive, suppliant, equivalent to sup- sup- + -plic-, variously explained as akin to plicāre to fold ¹, bend (thus meaning “bent over”; complex ), or to plācāre to placate ¹ (thus meaning “in the attitude of a suppliant”); (v.) Middle English supplen to soften, derivative of the noun (compare Old French asoplir )

Word History and Origins

Origin of supple¹

C13: from Old French souple, from Latin supplex bowed

Example Sentences

Created in 1934, the Ludo bracelet features updates like delicate mesh in hexagon and briquette motifs, woven by the maison’s craftsmen to heighten the effect of a supple ribbon.

From Los Angeles Times

She begs her supple, pouty-lipped counterpart to come back to life — Sue is slated to host a New Year’s Eve live event.

From Salon

It persisted because of the family’s willingness to accept thorns to grow roses — or in this case, to grow rice, lightly sweet with a pearlescent sheen and a supple chewy texture.

From Los Angeles Times

The list is rounded out by Scottish musician Corto.Alto, whose album Bad With Names has received rave reviews for its supple, genre-splicing approach to jazz.

From BBC

Hines was a marvel, not just with his fevered tap dancing and supple singing but with the sensitivity of his characterization.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agile
• elastic
• flexible
• graceful
• limber
• lithe
• malleable
• pliable
• pliant
• resilient
• springy
• svelte
• wiry