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pli·a·ble

(plīə-bəl)

adj.

1. Easily bent or shaped. See Synonyms at malleable.

2. Capable of being changed or adjusted to meet particular or varied needs: a pliable policy.

3. Easily influenced, persuaded, or controlled: replaced the complainer with a more pliable subordinate.

[Middle English, from Old French, from plier, to bend; see PLIANT.]

pli′a·bili·ty, plia·ble·ness n.

plia·bly adv.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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