different between supple vs supplely

English

Etymology

From Middle English souple, from Old French souple, soupple (“soft, lithe, yielding”), from Latin supplic-, supplex (“suppliant, submissive, kneeling”), of uncertain formation. Either from sub + plic? (“bend”) (compare complex), or from sub + pl?c? (“placate”). More at sub-, placate.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /?s?p?l/
• Rhymes: -?p?l

Adjective

supple (comparative suppler, superlative supplest)

1. pliant, flexible, easy to bend
2. lithe and agile when moving and bending

   supple joints; supple fingers

3. compliant; yielding to the will of others

   a supple horse

   • If punishment […] makes not the will supple, it hardens the offender.

Translations

Verb

supple (third-person singular simple present supples, present participle suppling, simple past and past participle suppled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To make or become supple.
   • 1693, John Dryden, Examen Poeticum

     The stones […] suppl'd into softness as they fell.
2. (transitive) To make compliant, submissive, or obedient.

   • a mother persisting till she had bent her daughter's mind and suppled her will

   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, Of contentment, patience and resignation to the will of God

     They should supple our stiff wilfulness.

Translations

Anagrams

• peplus

Latin

Verb

suppl?

1. second-person singular present active imperative of supple?

English

Alternative forms

• supply

Etymology

supple +? -ly

Adverb

supplely (comparative more supplely, superlative most supplely)

1. in a supple manner
2. flexibly