Sup"ple (?), a. [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.
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.
Sup"ple, v. i. To become soft and
pliant.
The stones . . .
Suppled into softness as they fell.
Dryden.
Sup"ple (?), a. [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.
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.
Sup"ple, v. i. To become soft and
pliant.
The stones . . .
Suppled into softness as they fell.
Dryden.
