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

If you don’t have tension, your vocal cords come together in ways that are supple and gentle.

From Nautilus

Shoes in this price point have uppers made of less supple materials throughout, and single-dial closure systems or some other setup instead of a double-dial closure.

From Outside Online

I spent days in it—falling asleep in it, waking and spending the day in it, and falling asleep in it again—without complaint, a result of its medium-light weight and incredibly supple feel.

From Outside Online

Finally, the 80 percent cotton, 20 percent polyester weave was supple against my skin and after a few washes felt even more so.

From Outside Online

You just go so fast, gliding along the smooth track, a full-body choreography with hips burning, shoulders supple with each flick of the wrists, easy on the knees, hard on the heart.

From Outside Online

But that wine, a balanced blend of supple fruit, focused acidity and sweet spice, was my wake-up call.

From The Daily Beast

Loose silk pants, cozy ponchos, and supple leggings were all a part of the equation.

From The Daily Beast

There is a diversity of voices within Hamas, some more supple than others.

From The Daily Beast

They are still comparatively supple, and any misplaced pinnæ may be re-arranged without any difficulty.

From Project Gutenberg

He did not say good night until she had become supple to his gentle, seductive entreaties.

From Project Gutenberg

With a quick and supple movement he was beside her, stretching his length upon the ground in the shadow of the mountain.

From Project Gutenberg

I had put my arms about her waist, and I felt her supple body weigh lightly on my clasped hands.

From Project Gutenberg

His neck was long, more supple and active, he kept moving his head in an unnatural watchfulness like a wild animal's.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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