-pli-

a. [ F., fr. plier to bend, to fold. See Ply, v. ] 1. Capable of being plied, turned, or bent; easy to be bent; flexible; pliant; supple; limber; yielding; as, willow is a pliable plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Flexible in disposition; readily yielding to influence, arguments, persuasion, or discipline; easy to be persuaded; -- sometimes in a bad sense; as, a pliable youth. “Pliable she promised to be.” Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pli"a*ble*ness, n. -- Pli"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being pliant in sense; as, the pliancy of a rod. “Avaunt all specious pliancy of mind.” Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. pliant, p. pr. of plier to bend. See Ply, v. ] 1. Capable of plying or bending; readily yielding to force or pressure without breaking; flexible; pliable; lithe; limber; plastic; as, a pliant thread; pliant wax. Also used figuratively: Easily influenced for good or evil; tractable; as, a pliant heart. [ 1913 Webster ]

The will was then ductile and pliant to right reason. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Favorable to pliancy. [ R. ] “A pliant hour.” Shak. -- Pli"ant*ly, adv. -- Pli"ant*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ LL., a fold, fr. L. plicare to fold. See Ply, v. ] 1. (Med.) A disease of the hair (Plica polonica), in which it becomes twisted and matted together. The disease is of Polish origin, and is hence called also Polish plait. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A diseased state in plants in which there is an excessive development of small entangled twigs, instead of ordinary branches. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) The bend of the wing of a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. plicatus, p. p. of plicare to fold. ] Plaited; folded like a fan; as, a plicate leaf. -- Pli"cate*ly adv. [1913 Webster]

n. A folding or fold; a plait. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. plicatura, fr. plicare to fold. ] A fold; a doubling; a plication. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. plica fold + E. dentine. ] (Anat.) A form of dentine which shows sinuous lines of structure in a transverse section of the tooth. [ 1913 Webster ]