Supple, a.
Etymology: [OE. souple, F. souple, from L. supplex suppliant, perhaps originally, being the knees. Cf. Supplicate.]
1. Pliant; flexible; easily bent; as, supple joints; supple fingers.
2. Yielding compliant; not obstinate; submissive to guidance; as, a supple horse. If punishment . . . makes not the will supple, it hardens the offender. Locke.
3. Bending to the humor of others; flattering; fawning; obsequious. Addison.
Syn. -- Pliant; flexible; yielding; compliant; bending; flattering; fawning; soft.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Supple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suppled; p. pr. & vb. n. Suppling.]
1. To make soft and pliant; to render flexible; as, to supple leather. The flesh therewith she suppled and did steep. Spenser.
2. To make compliant, submissive, or obedient. A mother persisting till she had bent her daughter's mind and suppled her will. Locke. They should supple our stiff willfulness. Barrow.
Supple, v. i.
To become soft and pliant. The stones . . . Suppled into softness as they fell. Dryden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for supple; he lists it under active.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.