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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Sup"ple, v. i.
To become soft and pliant.
The stones . . .
Suppled into softness as they fell.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.