souple

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsuːpəl/

Etymology 1

From a UK dialect form of supple.

Adjective

souple (not comparable)

1. Of raw silk: deprived of its silk-glue.

Etymology 2

Noun

souple (plural souples)

1. The part of a flail that strikes the grain.

Anagrams

• Loupes, Peluso, Puleos, loupes, poules

French

Etymology

From Latin supplex.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /supl/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

souple (plural souples)

1. supple
2. yielding
3. flexible

Related terms

• assouplir
• souplesse

Further reading

• “souple”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• loupes, poules

Middle English

Etymology

Old French souple and Anglo-Norman souple, from Latin supplex

Adjective

souple

1. flexible; supple
   • 14^th Century, Chaucer, General Prologue

     His bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.

     His boots flexible, his horse in a fine condition

Descendants

• → English: supple

Old French

Noun

souple m (oblique and nominative feminine singular souple)

1. supple (which bends readily)
   • circa 1170, La vie de St. Emonde

     keue souple

     Supple tail