flexible English · revision 7535

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1412|origins=la flecto}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈflɛk.sɪ.bəl/, /ˈflɛk.sə.bəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|flexible]] or directly Latin [[m|la|flexibilis|t=that may be bent, pliant]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from flexus, the past participle of [[m|la|flecto|alt=flectere|t=to bend]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) which is of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Capable of being bent; mentally pliant: about 1412 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Willing to yield to persuasion is before 1420 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The physical sense, capable of being bent without breaking, is from 1548 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Of a fluid, not rigid, or of winds, shifting, is an obsolete sense of 1612.^(OED 1989) Susceptible of modification or adaptation to various purposes is from 1643,^(OED 1989) as in ''flexible working hours''.^(Collins 2023) Its synonyms flexile (1630s) and flexive (1620s) have become rare.^(Etymonline) The verb [[flex]] is from before 1521, possibly a back-formation from flexible.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1412 – easily bent.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1420 – yielding to persuasion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1548 – pliant without breaking.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1643 – adaptable.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Able to be bent easily without breaking; [[pliable]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Able to change to suit new conditions; [[adaptable]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Easily persuaded or influenced.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[flexibility]]

+ * [[flexibly]]

+ * [[hyperflexible]]

+ * [[nonflexible]]

+ * [[semiflexible]]

+ * [[unflexible]]

+ * [[flexible time]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[inflexible]]

+ * [[flex]]

+ * [[reflex]]

+ * [[reflect]]

+ * [[inflect]]

+ * [[deflect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}