flexileadj.
/ˈflɛksɪl/ Now somewhat rare.
1. Easily bending or bent, pliant, supple, flexible. Of the features: Mobile.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [adjective]
tougha700
lithyc1000
softc1330
weak?a1366
plianta1382
persha1398
plyinga1398
lithec1400
supplec1400
plicable?a1425
curvable?1440
lethec1440
scretec1440
pliablec1475
bowable1483
bowing1483
waldinc1485
supple1513
flexible1548
limber1565
lither1565
bending1567
osier1577
wiry1588
buxom1590
withy1598
suppliable1599
renderingc1600
fluxible1607
winding1609
bendable1611
flippant1622
flexive1629
flexile1633
maniable1633
compliant1667
flectible1705
limp1706
yieldy1757
complying1774
limberly1782
willowy1791
switchy1810
wandy1825
twistable1853
bendsome1861
whippy1867
swack1868
bendy1873
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 20) 1043 The Serpent..winds about it [sc. his prey] with his flexile and folding body.
a1734 R. North Lives of Norths II. 202 From the box proceeds a flexile pipe with the tool at the end.
1774 Westm. Mag. 2 374 Hers is the humble eye, the flexile knee.
1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion viii. 379 Whose flexile boughs..concealed the stems and roots. View more context for this quotation
1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton Last Days of Pompeii I. i. ii. 21 A Sicilian, who, with vehement gestures and flexile features, was narrating..a strange tale.
2. transferred and figurative.
a. Easily directed or swayed; yielding, tractable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > changeableness > [adjective]
slidinga900
wankleeOE
windyc1000
unsteadfastc1200
fleeting?c1225
loose?c1225
brotelc1315
unstablec1340
varyingc1340
variantc1374
motleyc1380
ungroundedc1380
muablea1393
passiblea1393
remuablea1393
changeablea1398
movablea1398
variablec1397
slidderya1400
ticklec1400
variantc1412
flitting1413
mutable?a1425
movingc1425
flaskisable1430
flickering1430
transmutablec1430
vertible1447
brittlea1450
ficklea1450
permutablec1450
unfirmc1450
uncertain1477
turnable1483
unsteadfast1483
vagrantc1522
inconstant1526
alterable?1531
stirringc1540
slippery1548
various1552
slid?1553
mutala1561
rolling1561
weathery1563
unconstant1568
interchangeable1574
fluctuant1575
stayless1575
transitive1575
voluble1575
changeling1577
queasy1579
desultory1581
huff-puff1582
unstaid1586
vagrant1586
changeful1590
floating1594
Protean1594
unstayed1594
swimming1596
anchorless1597
mobilec1600
ticklish1601
catching1603
labile1603
unrooted1604
quicksilvered1605
versatile1605
insubstantial1607
uncertain1609
brandling1611
rootless1611
squeasy1611
wind-changinga1616
insolid1618
ambulatory1625
versatilous1629
plastic1633
desultorious1637
unbottomed1641
fluid1642
fluent1648
yea-and-nay1648
versipellous1650
flexile1651
uncentred1652
variating1653
chequered1656
slideable1662
transchangeative1662
weathercock-like1663
flicketing1674
fluxa1677
lapsable1678
wanton1681
veering1684
upon the weathercock1702
contingent1703
unsettled?1726
fermentable1731
afloat1757
brickle1768
wavy1795
vagarious1798
unsettled1803
fitful1810
metamorphosical1811
undulating1815
tittupya1817
titubant1817
mutative1818
papier mâché1818
teetotum1819
vacillating1822
capricious1823
sensitive1828
quicksilvery1829
unengrafted1829
fluxionala1834
proteiform1833
liquid1835
tottlish1835
kaleidoscopic1846
versative1846
kaleidoscopical1858
tottery1861
choppy1865
variative1874
variational1879
wimbly-wambly1881
fluctuable1882
shifty1882
giveable1884
shifty1884
tippy1886
mutatory1890
upsettable1890
rocky1897
undulatory1897
streaky1898
tottly1905
tipply1906
up and down1907
inertialess1927
sometimey1946
rise-and-fall1950
switchable1961
society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [adjective] > compliant
ablec1384
obedientc1400
supplec1405
accordinga1425
plianta1425
serviablea1425
appliable1449
bowablec1449
applicant?c1500
pliablea1513
applying?1529
flexible?1531
maniablea1604
correspondenta1616
compliable1641
compliant1642
complaisant1647
flexile1651
complacential1658
complying1668
commode1674
complaisential1689
applicable1702
complacent1790
unprotesting1792
1651 N. Biggs Matæotechnia Medicinæ Praxeωs ⁋291. 214 Their too flexile natures.
1744 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons (new ed.) 95 At Sea, whose every flexile Wave Obeys the Blast.
1836 E. Bulwer-Lytton Athens I. 111 The Ionians..were susceptible, flexile [etc.].
b. Capable of varied adaptation, versatile.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] > having several uses
flexible1643
versatile1656
polychrestical1657
pliant1665
flexile1744
general-purpose1851
polychrestic1889
multi-use1912
multi-purpose1920
adaptable1929
multifunction1934
multifunctional1934
multi-utility1985
the world > action or operation > ability > [adjective] > having all-round ability > specifically of abilities or skills
versatile1656
flexile1744
Crichtonian1833
1744 J. Armstrong Art of preserving Health ii. 47 Whose flexile genius sparkles in the gem, Grows firm in oak, and fugitive in wine.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Amphion in Poems (new ed.) II. 168 Oh, nature first was fresh to men,..So youthful and so flexile then, You moved her at your pleasure.
Derivatives
fleˈxility n. [+ -ity suffix] the quality or condition of being flexile.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > pliableness > [noun]
pliantnessa1398
bowablenessc1475
limberness1565
bowingness1580
pliableness1581
suppleness1584
flexibility1616
pliancy1632
flexure1651
flexility1660
pliability1725
compliancy1793
facility1853
yieldiness1857
whippiness1881
bonelessness1928
the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] > many-sidedness or versatility
volubility1579
ambidexterity1593
versatilousness1640
versatileness1654
versability1672
versatilitya1773
versatility1798
flexility1815
manysidedness1831
Crichtonism1854
multisidedness1903
omnicompetence1937
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [noun]
yea-and-nayc1384
vacillationc1400
titteringa1413
stackeringc1440
wondingc1440
fluctuationc1450
waver1519
mammering1532
uncertainty1548
wavering1548
to and fro1553
suspense1560
staggering1565
suspension1568
mammery1578
demur1581
branle1591
dilly-dally1592
hesitance1601
irresolution1601
uncertainness1601
undecision1611
waveringness1614
hesitancy1617
unsettledness1619
hesitation1622
unresolvednessa1626
doubleness of minda1628
wavinga1628
swagging1636
poise1637
mambling1640
stickagea1647
vacillancy1668
whifflinga1677
hovering1679
unresolve1679
irresoluteness1686
shilly-shally1755
indecisiona1763
undecisiveness1779
indecisiveness1793
oscillation1798
flexility1815
shilly-shallying1842
swaying1850
Hamletism1852
teeter1855
havering1866
off and on1875
dilly-dallying1879
double-mindedness1881
hesitatingness1890
dither1958
1660 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. III. v. 160 There are others, which depend upon these; as flexility, tractility, ductility, and others.
1815 W. Taylor in Monthly Mag. XL. 409 The flexility of the Samaritans.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.1633