— suppleness , n.
/sup"euhl/ , adj., suppler, supplest , v. , suppled, suppling .
adj.
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.
v.t. , v.i.
6. to make or become supple.
[ 1250-1300; (adj.) ME souple flexible, compliant supplic- (s. of supplex ) submissive, suppliant, equiv. to sup- SUP- + -plic-, variously explained as akin to plicare to FOLD 1 , bend (thus meaning "bent over"; cf. COMPLEX), or to placare to PLACATE (thus meaning "in the attitude of a suppliant"); (v.) ME supplen to soften, deriv. of the n. (cf. OF asoplir ) ]