supple Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make pliant and flexible
    • These boots are not yet suppled by frequent use
  2. adjective satellite moving and bending with ease
    lissome; lithesome; sylphlike; lissom; slender; lithe; svelte.
  3. adjective satellite (used of e.g. personality traits) readily adaptable
    limber.
    • a supple mind
    • a limber imagination
  4. adjective satellite (used of persons' bodies) capable of moving or bending freely
    limber.

WordNet

Sup"ple adjective
Etymology
OE. souple, F. souple, from L. supplex suppliant, perhaps originally, being the knees. Cf. Supplicate.
Definitions
  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.
Sup"ple transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Suppled ; present participle & verbal noun Suppling
Definitions
  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.
Sup"ple intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become soft and pliant.
    The stones . . . Suppled into softness as they fell. Dryden.

Webster 1913