Definition of pliant

The word "pliant" has its origins in the Middle English language, where it was spelled as "pleynt" or "plynte." This earliest form of the word comes from the Old French "pleindre," which means "to plead" or "to beg." Over time, the meaning of the word shifted in English, and by the late 14th century, it had come to mean "easily bent or influenced," rather than having anything to do with pleading or begging. This sense of the word is derived from the Middle English "plynden," which means "to bend" or "to force." Thus, the modern form of the word "pliant" can be traced back to its Middle English roots in the Old French "pleindre" and the Middle English "plynden." While its meaning has changed over time, "pliant" continues to be used today to describe something that is easily bent or influenced in response to an outside force.