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plié

[plee-ey]
noun, plural pli·és [plee-eyz; French plee-ey] /pliˈeɪz; French pliˈeɪ/. Ballet.
  1. a movement in which the knees are bent while the back is held straight.
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Origin of plié

1890–95; < French, noun use of past participle of plier to bend; see ply2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for plie

Historical Examples

  • You have only, when before your glass, to keep pronouncing to yourself nimini-pimini—the lips cannot fail taking their plie.

    The Heiress;

    John Burgoyne

British Dictionary definitions for plie

plié

noun
  1. a classic ballet practice posture with back erect and knees bent
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Word Origin

French: bent, from plier to bend
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for plie

n.

in ballet, 1892, from French plié, from plier literally "to bend," from Old French ploier (see ply (n.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper