supple
SUP-ul
/ˈsʌpl̩/
Bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible; soft and yielding to touch.
Connotes physical elegance, youthfulness, fluid athletic movement, or soft, high-quality material (like fine leather).
The story behind the word. From Old French 'souple', derived from Latin 'supplex' (submissive, kneeling, bending under), combining 'sub-' (under) and 'plicare' (to fold). Bending one's knees submissively in prayer originally gave birth to the physical concept of yielding, flexible joints.
Word relationships
- pliable: Pliable emphasizes easy bending under force, whereas supple emphasizes smooth, soft, and graceful movement.
- lithe: Lithe focuses specifically on slim, graceful athletic bodies, while supple applies to bodies, joints, skin, and materials like leather.
- stiff: Stiff describes rigid joints, muscles, or materials that resist movement.
- brittle: Brittle means hard but easily broken or shattered when bent.
Commonly confused with
- supper: Supple is an adjective meaning flexible and soft; supper is a noun meaning an evening meal.
Word family
- suppleness (noun): The quality of being flexible and graceful.
Collocations
- supple leather
- supple joints
- supple body
- remain supple
Idioms & expressions
- fluid grace
- bend like bamboo
Example sentences
- "The supple limbs of the young athlete moved with effortless grace across the open field." Classic American poetry on physicality and youth
- "Regular conditioning kept the horse saddle supple and soft despite exposure to harsh weather." Craftsmanship and leatherwork description
Memory hook
SUPPLE: keeps your body SOFT and FLEXIBLE like a Pilates practitioner. Gracefully soft and bending without stiffness.
When not to use
Do not use to describe intellectual compliance with legal regulations; use compliant instead.
Fun facts
- In ancient Rome, 'supplex' described a petitioner who physically bowed low or knelt to ask emperor for mercy.
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