suppleness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree English supple Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English suppleness From supple + -ness.
Meanings
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(uncountable, usually) The quality of being supple; litheness, flexibility, pliability, manageability.
Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace: the first apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.
1699, William Temple, Heads designed for an essay on conversations:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| supplenesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (24)
gv lhoobid (the quality of being supple) · nl soepelheid (the quality of being supple) · de Geschmeidigkeit (the quality of being supple) · sh савѝтљиво̄ст (the quality of being supple) · de Flexibilität (the quality of being supple) · sv smidighet (the quality of being supple) · sh savìtljivōst (the quality of being supple) · ka მოქნილობა (the quality of being supple) · ga umhlóid (the quality of being supple) · frm soupplesse (the quality of being supple) · it flessuosità (the quality of being supple) · fr souplesse (the quality of being supple) · la mollitūdō (the quality of being supple) · ga lúfaireacht (the quality of being supple) · la mollitia (the quality of being supple) · pl elastyczność (the quality of being supple) · nl lenigheid (the quality of being supple) · ga aclaíocht (the quality of being supple) · fi notkeus (the quality of being supple) · la mollitiēs (the quality of being supple) · ga solúbthacht (the quality of being supple) · pl gibkość (the quality of being supple) · nb smidighet (the quality of being supple) · ga leabhaireacht (the quality of being supple)