Category:Supple

Sup"ple, a. Etym: [oe. souple, f. souple, from l. supplex suppliant, Perhaps originally, being the knees. Cf. Supplicate.]

1. Pliant; flexible; easily bent; as, supple joints; supple fingers.

2. Yielding compliant; not obstinate; submissive to guidance; as, a Supple horse. If punishment. . . makes not the will supple, it hardens the Offender. Locke.

3. Bending to the humor of others; flattering; fawning; obsequious. Addison.

Syn. -- pliant; flexible; yielding; compliant; bending; flattering; Fawning; soft.

Supple Sup"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suppled; p. pr. & vb. n. Suppling.]

1. To make soft and pliant; to render flexible; as, to supple Leather. The flesh therewith she suppled and did steep. Spenser.

2. To make compliant, submissive, or obedient. A mother persisting till she had bent her daughter's mind and suppled Her will. Locke. They should supple our stiff willfulness. Barrow.

Supple Sup"ple, v. i.

Defn: to become soft and pliant. The stones. . . Suppled into softness as they fell. Dryden.