[syn: pliability, pliancy, pliantness, suppleness]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Pliant \Pli"ant\, 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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
pliantness
n 1: the property of being pliant and flexible [syn: pliancy,
pliantness, suppleness]
2: adaptability of mind or character; "he was valued for his
reliability and pliability"; "he increased the leanness and
suppleness of the organization" [syn: pliability,
pliancy, pliantness, suppleness]