supple

The story

1. Latin · derived fromsupplic-
2. Old French · derived fromsouple
3. Middle English · inherited fromsouple
4. English todaysupple

From Middle English souple, from Old French souple, soupple (“soft, lithe, yielding”), from Latin supplic-, supplex (“suppliant, submissive, kneeling”), of uncertain formation. Either from sub + plicō (“bend”) (compare complex), or from sub + plācō (“placate”). More at sub-, placate.