Main Entry: ¹sup·ply

Pronunciation: \sə-ˈplī\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): sup·plied; sup·ply·ing

Etymology: Middle English supplien to complete, compensate for, from Middle French soupplier, from Latin supplēre to fill up, complete, raise (a military unit, crew) to its full complement, substitute, from sub- up + plēre to fill — more at sub-, full

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to add as a supplement
2 [Middle French souploier, alteration of soupplier] a : to provide for : satisfy <laws by which the material wants of men are supplied — Bulletin of Bates College> b : to make available for use : provide <supplied the necessary funds> c : to satisfy the needs or wishes of d : to furnish (organs, tissues, or cells) with a vital element (as blood or nerve fibers)
3 : to substitute for another in; specifically : to serve as a supply in (a church or pulpit)intransitive verb : to serve as a supply or substitute

— sup·pli·er \-ˈplī(-ə)r\ noun