Where does “supple” come from?

Supple comes from Middle English souple, from Old French souple, from Latin supplex meaning "bending under," derived from supplico combining Latin sub "under" and plico "to fold," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pel- and upo.

supple (English): pliant, flexible, easy to bend; lithe and agile...

Definitions

  1. pliant, flexible, easy to bend; lithe and agile...

Ancestry of “supple”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsoupleflexible; supple
2Old Frenchsouplesupple
3Latinsupplexkneeling; begging; suppliant
4Latinsupplicōto pray or supplicate
5Latinsub-under, sub
6Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-

Words derived from “supple

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-
supple — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer