A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Souplenes, Suppleness, n. [e.m.E. supplenesse (1594); Soupill adj.] The quality of being compliant, cunning or devious, in senses 4 a and b of Soupill adj. — ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation 8.
Poor Peter had a trial of this souplenes … O that God would take us by the neck and shake our soupleness from us 1691 Haigs of Bemersyde 328.
You accuse me of suppleness, as if I had resiled from my bargain with you anent the loch 1719 Life and Death of Sharp 16.
His souplenes so qualifies him for running that he pleases his master [sc. Lord Finlater] well
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"Souplenes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/souplenes>
