Middle English Dictionary Entry
sǒuplen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sǒuplen v. Also souple, sople, supple(n, -on, -un; p.ppl. soupled, suppullid. |
| Etymology | From sǒuple adj.; cp. F (16th cent.) soupler. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To make (sth.) pliant or flexible; (b) to promote softness of the skin, body, etc.; make (skin) soft; also, soften (soil for the growing of crops); (c) to mollify (sb.); make (the heart or soul) humble, amenable, or obedient; to weaken (someone's resolve or constancy); also, of the heart: become amenable, submit.
Associated quotations
a
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)226/13 : A man shulde ponyshe a shrewe liche as iren is soupled withoute [?read: with oon] hamour [DSPhilos.: fyled with a fyle] of iren.
- a1500 Trin-C.R.14.45 Recipes (Trin-C R.14.45) 135/25 : Wryng þi skyn and hange hit up to drye, þanne whanne it is drye moiste hit with a litil ale..þanne drawe hit abrode o a polyng stake..until hit be supplied inowe.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)31b/b : As blood doþ renuynge in þe veynes of þe body, so doþ þe veynes of watir, for it moistiþ þe dryenes of þe erþe and disposiþ it and soupliþ [L habilitat] to bere fruyt.
- a1425 St.Anthony (Roy 17.C.7)119/21 : Antony þan purpossyng to constrayne hys body wyt þe ȝoke of straiter lyfe..Oynement vitterly forsakyng -- & ȝit fulle holy mene sayd þai myght not endure bot if hyre bodys werne suppullyd wyt oynement.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)9/19 : He þat is a kyndely Cirurgian muste bere wiþ him..Dealtea to liþe or souple wiþ.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)89/15 : Anoynte the seke with a litil popilion and that schal supple the skyne and make it esy.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4890 : This tirannysshe knyht Was soupled, bot noght half ariht, For he non other hiede tok, Bot that he myhte..Althogh it were ayein hire wille, The lustes of his fleissh fulfille.
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8)24/156 : Soue in myn herte, þat is hard os ston, a sparcle of compassyoun of þat dere passyoun, a wounde of þat reuthe to souple it with.
- a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)56/22 : A drope of þi blood..may souple and softe my soule in þi grace, þat is so hard.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2244 : He that pride hath hym withynne Ne may his herte in no wise Meken ne souplen to seruyse.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)484 : Supple, or plyant: Supplex..plicabilis [Win: Placabilis]; Supplun [Win: Supplon], or make supple.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)99/21 : A traitour will not be souplid, neiþer for familiarite of feleship ne for homlynes of mete & drinke, ne for grace of seruice, ne for plente of benefices.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)280/27 : Here hertys arn so harde in loue of þe world..þat it mowe noȝt brestyn ne supplyn to goodnes.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)104.52 (v.2:p.135) : The tyrant .. commaundid hym myghtily to be betyn, wenyng to brekyn his constant stedfastnesse with betyng, the which he myght nat supplen with wordis ner with thretyng.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)59/18 : Þe buttir of cristes passioun is broute in to þe chirne of þe herte forto sople it and make it softe a yenst al maner anguissis.