flexibility English · revision 10480

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1616|origins=fr flexibilité|origins=la flexibilitas}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌflɛksɪˈbɪlɪti/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from French flexibilité (in Old French, weakness, vacillation) or directly from Late Latin flexibilitās, flexibilitātem,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from Latin flexibilis, pliant, yielding (see [[flexible]]).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The capacity to be bent, pliancy, of physical things: 1616, the 1610s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Readiness to yield to influence or persuasion, pliancy of mind, is from 1647,^(OED 1989) and the quality of yielding to pressure from 1677 (obsolete).^(OED 1989) Of immaterial things, capacity for ready adaptation or modification, it is from 1783.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Of the voice or fingers, capacity for free and varied execution, it is from 1795.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1616 – pliancy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1647 – pliancy of mind.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1783 – adaptability.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1795 – of the voice.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The ability to bend easily without breaking.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The ability to adapt or be changed easily to suit new conditions.^(OED 1989)

+ # Willingness to change or compromise.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hyperflexibility]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flex]]

+ * [[flexible]]

+ * [[inflexible]]

+ * [[reflex]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}