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Today it means

flexible

able to bend; adaptable

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Where does the word "flexible" come from? It comes from Latin flexibilis, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

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Where does the word "flexible" come from? It comes from Latin flexibilis, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Flexible’s story begins in Latin: flexibilis meant “pliant.” From 'flectere', to bend. It reached English by 1400s as flexible. 'flexitime' dates from the 1970s. Today, flexible means able to bend; adaptable.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient flexibilis "pliant", from 'flectere', to bend.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s flexible "bendable", 'flexitime' dates from the 1970s.

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