pliantadj.

Brit.

/ˈplʌɪənt/, U.S.

/ˈplaɪənt/

Forms: Middle English pleant, Middle English pleaunt, Middle English–1500s pliaunt, Middle English–1500s plyaunt, Middle English–1500s plyaunte, Middle English–1700s plyant, Middle English– pliant, 1500s plyante, 1500s–1600s plyant, 1600s plient; Scottish pre-1700 pliand, pre-1700 plyand, 1700s– pliant; N.E.D. (1907) also records a form of the ending Middle English–1500s -awnt.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French pliant.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French pliant (French pliant ) flexible or supple (c1220 in Old French), docile, easily influenced (first third of the 13th cent. as pleiant ), that yields or bends (e.g. of a branch) (13th cent. as ployant ), that can be folded (1420 as ployant ), use as adjective of present participle of plier ply v.¹

1. Flexible or supple; capable of being bent or folded easily; ductile.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [adjective]

tougha700

lithyc1000

softc1330

weak?a1366

plianta1382

persha1398

plyinga1398

lithec1400

supplec1400

plicable?a1425

curvable?1440

lethec1440

scretec1440

pliablec1475

bowable1483

bowing1483

waldinc1485

supple1513

flexible1548

limber1565

lither1565

bending1567

osier1577

wiry1588

buxom1590

withy1598

suppliable1599

renderingc1600

fluxible1607

winding1609

bendable1611

flippant1622

flexive1629

flexile1633

maniable1633

compliant1667

flectible1705

limp1706

yieldy1757

complying1774

limberly1782

willowy1791

switchy1810

wandy1825

twistable1853

bendsome1861

whippy1867

swack1868

bendy1873

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. iii. 24 He sette Cherubin..& a flawmand swerd & pleaunt [a1425 L.V. turnynge about; L. versatilem] to þe way of þe tree of lyf to be ykepte.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 45 Glas..is so pliaunt þat it fongeþ ful sone dyuers and contrary schappes by blast of þe glasiere.

1519 W. Horman Vulgaria ix. f. 109 The elephante hath a longe nose lyke a troumpe, pliant hither and thither.

1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Lentus, softe, tender, pliant, that boweth easely, limber [etc.].

1601 J. Donne Poems (1650) 301 The free inhabitants of the plyant ayre.

1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. iii. 43 These Hats are as stiff as boards, and sit not plyant to their heads.

1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. x. 195 An ell in length the pliant wisp I weav'd.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 397 [Tortoise shells] are easily cast into what form the workman thinks proper, by making them soft and pliant in warm water, and then screwing them in a mold, like a medal.

1825 R. Southey Tale of Paraguay i. xix Basket-work of many a pliant bough.

1880 L. Morris Ode of Life 25 The fisher, with his pliant wand.

1937 Life 26 July 13/1 (advt.) After shaving, your skin still feels pliant and soft.

1999 C. Mendelson Home Comforts xxxvi. 503/2 ‘Wicker’ means any pliant twigs or branches..flexible enough to be bent and woven into useful and attractive shapes.

2. figurative.

a. Able to be modified or modulated for different purposes; versatile, flexible.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > flexible

plianta1398

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] > having several uses

flexible1643

versatile1656

polychrestical1657

pliant1665

flexile1744

general-purpose1851

polychrestic1889

multi-use1912

multi-purpose1920

adaptable1929

multifunction1934

multifunctional1934

multi-utility1985

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 48^v An euen, clere, & stronge, byndinge and plyaunt [L. flexibilis] voys & mene by twene heuy & scarpe is good.

1665 R. Boyle Disc. iii. iii, in Occas. Refl. sig. D4 He may..attain to so pliant a Style, that scarce any Thought will puzzle him to fit words to it.

a1775 E. Lovibond Poems (1785) 130 Tune to crowds thy pliant voice, Or flatter thrones, the nobler choice!

1882 S. Cox Expos. IV. 197 It should be pliant to or leave room for the discoveries of widening science.

1989 Washington Post (Nexis) 26 Sept. d11 As Violetta, Jackson used her marvelously pliant voice in both passionate and quietly prayerful ways.

b. Easily influenced or directed; submissive or docile; compliant, accommodating, yielding.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective]

unfastc888

unstathelfasteOE

unsteadfasta1200

fleeting?c1225

changeablea1275

ficklea1275

unstablec1290

waveringc1315

flickerc1325

loose in the haftc1325

motleyc1380

unsadc1384

variablea1387

variantc1386

ticklec1400

inconstant1402

flitting1413

brittle1420

plianta1425

mutablec1425

shittle1440

shittle-witted1448

moonishc1450

unconstant1483

unfirm1483

varying?a1500

pliablea1513

fluctuant1575

changeling1577

shittle-headed1580

cheverel1583

off and on1583

chameleon-like1589

changeful1590

limber1602

unsteady1604

ticklish1606

skittish1609

startling1619

labile1623

uncertaina1625

cheverelized1625

remuant1625

fluctuate1631

fluctuary1632

various1636

contrarious1643

epileptical1646

fluxilea1654

shittle-braineda1655

multivolent1656

totter-headed1662

on and off1668

self-inconsistent1678

weathercocka1680

whifflinga1680

versatile1682

veering1684

fast and loose1697

inconsistent1709

insteadfast1728

unfixing1810

unsteadied1814

chameleonic1821

labefact1874

ballastless1884

weathercocky1886

whiffle-minded1902

society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [adjective] > compliant

ablec1384

obedientc1400

supplec1405

accordinga1425

plianta1425

serviablea1425

appliable1449

bowablec1449

applicant?c1500

pliablea1513

applying?1529

flexible?1531

maniablea1604

correspondenta1616

compliable1641

compliant1642

complaisant1647

flexile1651

complacential1658

complying1668

commode1674

complaisential1689

applicable1702

complacent1790

unprotesting1792

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 4386 Haue herte as hard as dyamaunt, Stedefast, and nought pliaunt.

c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) 6914 (MED) Mercy maketh hem [sc. women] plyaunt, For pyte..Renneth sone in gentyl herte.

1577 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture (new ed.) sig. Ciii A plyaunt seruaunt gets fauour, to his great aduauntage.

1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. ii. 10 This first age, is that wherein they are most pliant.

1647 T. Fuller Cause Wounded Conscience iv. 22 The Conscience becomes so pliant and supple, that the least imaginable touch is painful unto it.

1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother iv. i. 1792 'Twill..make his Youth more plyant to my Will.

1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women II. ix. 121 Men..pliant to good advice.

1860 J. L. Motley Hist. United Netherlands I. vii. 405 A committee thus instructed was likely to be sufficiently pliant.

1877 J. A. Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. ii. 25 The king would find some other prelate who would be more pliant in his hands.

1929 H. Kohn Hist. Nationalism in East 1 At first they [sc. the ruling powers] appeared pliant and yielding, alike towards subject peoples and socially oppressed classes.

1995 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 26 Feb. 22/3 Will the new Congressional Republicans..be pliant enough and loyal enough to follow, even when it hurts?

c. That lends itself to some purpose; apt, adaptable, suitable. rare (in later use echoing quot. a1616).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective]

goodeOE

rightOE

queemlOE

belonglOE

behovingc1175

limplyc1200

tidefula1300

avenantc1300

mackc1330

worthy1340

hemea1350

convenientc1374

seemlya1375

shapelyc1374

ablea1382

cordant1382

meetc1385

accordable1386

accordinga1387

appurtenantc1386

pertinentc1390

accordanta1393

likea1393

setea1400

throa1400

agreeablec1425

habilec1425

suitly1426

competentc1430

suiting1431

fitc1440

proportionablec1443

justc1450

congruent?a1475

cordinga1475

congruec1475

afferant1480

belonging1483

cordable1485

hovable1508

attainanta1513

accommodate1525

agreeing1533

respondent1533

opportunate?1541

appropriate1544

commode1549

familiar1553

apt1563

pliant1565

liable1570

sortly1570

competible1586

sortable1586

fitty1589

accommodable1592

congruable1603

affining1606

feated1606

suity1607

reputable1611

suited1613

idoneousa1615

matchable1614

suitablea1616

congruous1631

fitten1642

responsal1647

appropriated1651

adapt1658

mack-like1672

squared1698

homogeneous1708

applicable1711

unforeign1718

fitted1736

congenial1738

assorted1790

accommodatable1874

OK1925

1565–6 in J. A. Twemlow Liverpool Town Bks. (1918) I. 574 I can get suffycyent of no thyng necessary or pleant for lyfe.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 150 Which I obseruing, Tooke once a plyant houre, and found good meanes To draw from her a prayer.

1861 J. Pycroft Ways & Words 60 Noble companions of many a pliant hour.

1943 G. Bruun Clemenceau 13 Students and radicals..planning how best to seize and use the pliant hour which fate had suddenly offered them.

Compounds

General attributive, as pliant-bodied, pliant-necked, etc., adjs.

ΚΠ

1798 W. S. Landor Gebir vii. 139 Swans pliant-necked.

1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. xii. 383 Like pliant-bodied wasps or bees.

1991 Los Angeles Times 28 Oct. f8/1 New songs..were good vehicles for the pliant-faced, mime-gesturing Ridgway to play characters driven daft.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	pliant
释义	pliantadj. Brit. /ˈplʌɪənt/, U.S. /ˈplaɪənt/ Forms: Middle English pleant, Middle English pleaunt, Middle English–1500s pliaunt, Middle English–1500s plyaunt, Middle English–1500s plyaunte, Middle English–1700s plyant, Middle English– pliant, 1500s plyante, 1500s–1600s plyant, 1600s plient; Scottish pre-1700 pliand, pre-1700 plyand, 1700s– pliant; N.E.D. (1907) also records a form of the ending Middle English–1500s -awnt. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French pliant. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French pliant (French pliant ) flexible or supple (c1220 in Old French), docile, easily influenced (first third of the 13th cent. as pleiant ), that yields or bends (e.g. of a branch) (13th cent. as ployant ), that can be folded (1420 as ployant ), use as adjective of present participle of plier ply v.¹ 1. Flexible or supple; capable of being bent or folded easily; ductile. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [adjective] tougha700 lithyc1000 softc1330 weak?a1366 plianta1382 persha1398 plyinga1398 lithec1400 supplec1400 plicable?a1425 curvable?1440 lethec1440 scretec1440 pliablec1475 bowable1483 bowing1483 waldinc1485 supple1513 flexible1548 limber1565 lither1565 bending1567 osier1577 wiry1588 buxom1590 withy1598 suppliable1599 renderingc1600 fluxible1607 winding1609 bendable1611 flippant1622 flexive1629 flexile1633 maniable1633 compliant1667 flectible1705 limp1706 yieldy1757 complying1774 limberly1782 willowy1791 switchy1810 wandy1825 twistable1853 bendsome1861 whippy1867 swack1868 bendy1873 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. iii. 24 He sette Cherubin..& a flawmand swerd & pleaunt [a1425 L.V. turnynge about; L. versatilem] to þe way of þe tree of lyf to be ykepte. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 45 Glas..is so pliaunt þat it fongeþ ful sone dyuers and contrary schappes by blast of þe glasiere. 1519 W. Horman Vulgaria ix. f. 109 The elephante hath a longe nose lyke a troumpe, pliant hither and thither. 1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Lentus, softe, tender, pliant, that boweth easely, limber [etc.]. 1601 J. Donne Poems (1650) 301 The free inhabitants of the plyant ayre. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. iii. 43 These Hats are as stiff as boards, and sit not plyant to their heads. 1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. x. 195 An ell in length the pliant wisp I weav'd. 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 397 [Tortoise shells] are easily cast into what form the workman thinks proper, by making them soft and pliant in warm water, and then screwing them in a mold, like a medal. 1825 R. Southey Tale of Paraguay i. xix Basket-work of many a pliant bough. 1880 L. Morris Ode of Life 25 The fisher, with his pliant wand. 1937 Life 26 July 13/1 (advt.) After shaving, your skin still feels pliant and soft. 1999 C. Mendelson Home Comforts xxxvi. 503/2 ‘Wicker’ means any pliant twigs or branches..flexible enough to be bent and woven into useful and attractive shapes. 2. figurative. a. Able to be modified or modulated for different purposes; versatile, flexible. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > flexible plianta1398 the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] > having several uses flexible1643 versatile1656 polychrestical1657 pliant1665 flexile1744 general-purpose1851 polychrestic1889 multi-use1912 multi-purpose1920 adaptable1929 multifunction1934 multifunctional1934 multi-utility1985 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 48^v An euen, clere, & stronge, byndinge and plyaunt [L. flexibilis] voys & mene by twene heuy & scarpe is good. 1665 R. Boyle Disc. iii. iii, in Occas. Refl. sig. D4 He may..attain to so pliant a Style, that scarce any Thought will puzzle him to fit words to it. a1775 E. Lovibond Poems (1785) 130 Tune to crowds thy pliant voice, Or flatter thrones, the nobler choice! 1882 S. Cox Expos. IV. 197 It should be pliant to or leave room for the discoveries of widening science. 1989 Washington Post (Nexis) 26 Sept. d11 As Violetta, Jackson used her marvelously pliant voice in both passionate and quietly prayerful ways. b. Easily influenced or directed; submissive or docile; compliant, accommodating, yielding. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] unfastc888 unstathelfasteOE unsteadfasta1200 fleeting?c1225 changeablea1275 ficklea1275 unstablec1290 waveringc1315 flickerc1325 loose in the haftc1325 motleyc1380 unsadc1384 variablea1387 variantc1386 ticklec1400 inconstant1402 flitting1413 brittle1420 plianta1425 mutablec1425 shittle1440 shittle-witted1448 moonishc1450 unconstant1483 unfirm1483 varying?a1500 pliablea1513 fluctuant1575 changeling1577 shittle-headed1580 cheverel1583 off and on1583 chameleon-like1589 changeful1590 limber1602 unsteady1604 ticklish1606 skittish1609 startling1619 labile1623 uncertaina1625 cheverelized1625 remuant1625 fluctuate1631 fluctuary1632 various1636 contrarious1643 epileptical1646 fluxilea1654 shittle-braineda1655 multivolent1656 totter-headed1662 on and off1668 self-inconsistent1678 weathercocka1680 whifflinga1680 versatile1682 veering1684 fast and loose1697 inconsistent1709 insteadfast1728 unfixing1810 unsteadied1814 chameleonic1821 labefact1874 ballastless1884 weathercocky1886 whiffle-minded1902 society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [adjective] > compliant ablec1384 obedientc1400 supplec1405 accordinga1425 plianta1425 serviablea1425 appliable1449 bowablec1449 applicant?c1500 pliablea1513 applying?1529 flexible?1531 maniablea1604 correspondenta1616 compliable1641 compliant1642 complaisant1647 flexile1651 complacential1658 complying1668 commode1674 complaisential1689 applicable1702 complacent1790 unprotesting1792 a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 4386 Haue herte as hard as dyamaunt, Stedefast, and nought pliaunt. c1450 (?c1408) J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte (1901) 6914 (MED) Mercy maketh hem [sc. women] plyaunt, For pyte..Renneth sone in gentyl herte. 1577 H. Rhodes Bk. Nurture (new ed.) sig. Ciii A plyaunt seruaunt gets fauour, to his great aduauntage. 1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. ii. 10 This first age, is that wherein they are most pliant. 1647 T. Fuller Cause Wounded Conscience iv. 22 The Conscience becomes so pliant and supple, that the least imaginable touch is painful unto it. 1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother iv. i. 1792 'Twill..make his Youth more plyant to my Will. 1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women II. ix. 121 Men..pliant to good advice. 1860 J. L. Motley Hist. United Netherlands I. vii. 405 A committee thus instructed was likely to be sufficiently pliant. 1877 J. A. Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. ii. 25 The king would find some other prelate who would be more pliant in his hands. 1929 H. Kohn Hist. Nationalism in East 1 At first they [sc. the ruling powers] appeared pliant and yielding, alike towards subject peoples and socially oppressed classes. 1995 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 26 Feb. 22/3 Will the new Congressional Republicans..be pliant enough and loyal enough to follow, even when it hurts? c. That lends itself to some purpose; apt, adaptable, suitable. rare (in later use echoing quot. a1616). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] goodeOE rightOE queemlOE belonglOE behovingc1175 limplyc1200 tidefula1300 avenantc1300 mackc1330 worthy1340 hemea1350 convenientc1374 seemlya1375 shapelyc1374 ablea1382 cordant1382 meetc1385 accordable1386 accordinga1387 appurtenantc1386 pertinentc1390 accordanta1393 likea1393 setea1400 throa1400 agreeablec1425 habilec1425 suitly1426 competentc1430 suiting1431 fitc1440 proportionablec1443 justc1450 congruent?a1475 cordinga1475 congruec1475 afferant1480 belonging1483 cordable1485 hovable1508 attainanta1513 accommodate1525 agreeing1533 respondent1533 opportunate?1541 appropriate1544 commode1549 familiar1553 apt1563 pliant1565 liable1570 sortly1570 competible1586 sortable1586 fitty1589 accommodable1592 congruable1603 affining1606 feated1606 suity1607 reputable1611 suited1613 idoneousa1615 matchable1614 suitablea1616 congruous1631 fitten1642 responsal1647 appropriated1651 adapt1658 mack-like1672 squared1698 homogeneous1708 applicable1711 unforeign1718 fitted1736 congenial1738 assorted1790 accommodatable1874 OK1925 1565–6 in J. A. Twemlow Liverpool Town Bks. (1918) I. 574 I can get suffycyent of no thyng necessary or pleant for lyfe. a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. iii. 150 Which I obseruing, Tooke once a plyant houre, and found good meanes To draw from her a prayer. View more context for this quotation 1861 J. Pycroft Ways & Words 60 Noble companions of many a pliant hour. 1943 G. Bruun Clemenceau 13 Students and radicals..planning how best to seize and use the pliant hour which fate had suddenly offered them. Compounds General attributive, as pliant-bodied, pliant-necked, etc., adjs. ΚΠ 1798 W. S. Landor Gebir vii. 139 Swans pliant-necked. 1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. xii. 383 Like pliant-bodied wasps or bees. 1991 Los Angeles Times 28 Oct. f8/1 New songs..were good vehicles for the pliant-faced, mime-gesturing Ridgway to play characters driven daft. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.a1382
随便看	carbonylations carbonyler carbonylest carbonylic carbonyls carbon–14 date carbon–14 dating carborane carborne carborundum carborundums carbos carbostyril carbosulphuret carbound carbowax carbox- carboxy carboxy terminus carboxy- carboxy-terminal carboxydismutase carboxyhaemoglobin carboxyhemoglobin carboxyhemoglobins