subtle

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) enPR: sŭt'l, IPA(key): /ˈsʌtl̩/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsʌtəl/, [ˈsʌɾɫ̩] Rhymes: -ʌtəl Hyphenation: sub‧tle === Etymology 1 === The adjective is derived from Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil (“of a person, the mind, etc.: clever, ingenious, penetrating; cunning, sly; insidious; delicate, fine; not dense, light, thin; finely powdered; narrow, slender; etc.”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman sotel, subtil, sutil, Middle French soutil, subtil, sutil, and Old French sotil, soutil, subtil, sutil (“of an object: skilfully designed or made; delicate, fine; slender, thin; of an intangible thing: difficult to understand; of a person: discerning, shrewd; devious, sly; etc.”) (modern French subtil), from Latin subtīlis (“of texture: delicate, fine; slender, thin; accurate, keen; having fine judgment; etc.”), from sub (“below, under”) + tēla (“warp (threads running lengthwise in a loom); web”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- (“to create, produce; to cut, hew”), from *teḱ- (“to beget, sire”)). The word displaced Old English smēag (literally “creeping”). The modern and Middle English (and French) spellings with -b- are influenced by Latin subtīlis; the letter was probably never pronounced. The noun is derived from Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil (“wise person; sophisticated people collectively”), from the adjective. ==== Adjective ==== subtle (comparative subtler or more subtle, superlative subtlest or most subtle) Senses relating to tangible things. Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive. 1712, Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem. Demonstrating the Existence and Providence of a God. In Seven Books, book I, London: Printed for S. Buckley, at the Dolphin in Little-Britain; and J[acob] Tonson, at Shakespear's Head over-against Catherine-Street in the Strand, OCLC 731619916; 5th edition, Dublin: Printed by S. Powell, for G. Risk, G. Ewing, and W. Smith, in Dame's-street, 1727, OCLC 728300884, page 7: The mighty Magnet from the Center darts / This ſtrong, tho' ſubtile Force, thro' all the Parts: / Its active Rays ejaculated thence, / Irradiate all the wide Circumference. (archaic) Having a delicate or fine substance or texture; hence, exquisite, refined. (archaic) Slender, thin. (archaic) Of a substance: finely powdered; also, of particles of a substance: very fine or small. (archaic) Of weight: after the tare (“weight of an empty container”) has been subtracted; net. Antonym: gross (historical) Of a substance, especially a gas or liquid: of low density or thin consistency; rarefied, tenuous; hence, tending to spread everywhere due to this quality. (nautical, obsolete, rare except historical) Synonym of subtile (“of a ship: narrow, slender”). Senses relating to intangible things. Of an argument or concept, words, etc.: requiring one to distinguish between fine points, especially if it is difficult to do so; nice; also (generally), difficult to grasp; not easily understood or obvious. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:subtle Antonyms: simple, straightforward; see also Thesaurus:obvious Giving only a slight impression; elusive, indistinct; also, skilfully restrained or understated. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:indistinct Antonyms: see Thesaurus:distinct Of an artist, a musician, etc.: having a light touch; sensitive. Of a person: sensitive to the feelings of others; discreet, tactful. Of a person, their intellect or mind, etc.: discerning, perceptive, shrewd, wise. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wise Antonyms: see Thesaurus:foolish Acting (especially causing harm) in a stealthy, often gradual, manner; insidious. (archaic) Of a person or their fingers or hands, their ability, etc.: dexterous, skilful. (archaic) Of a person or animal, or of an action or words: clever or skilful in a crafty or devious way; cunning, sly, wily. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wily (obsolete) Of ground used for bowling: not smooth; uneven. (obsolete) Of an object: cleverly contrived or made; also, of a plan, etc.: cleverly contrived or carried out. ===== Alternative forms ===== subtil, subtile, subtill, suttle (all obsolete) ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== the subtle (uncountable) People or things that are subtle (adjective sense) as a class. ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Partly from both of the following: From Middle English sotilen, subtile, subtilien (“to reflect on (something); to become mentally keen; to connive, scheme; to contrive, invent; to become pure or thin; to (cause something to) become light or thin; (medicine) to lighten or reduce (a diet)”), from Anglo-Norman sotiller, soutiller, sutiller, Middle French soutiller, soutillier, and Old French soutillier (“to make thin; to sharpen; to split hairs when arguing; to scheme, plot”), from Old French sotil, soutil, subtil, sutil (noun) (see etymology 1) + -ier (suffix forming infinitives of first-conjugation verbs), partly influenced by Late Latin subtīliāre, the present active infinitive of subtīliō (“to act craftily; to diminish”), from Latin subtīlis (adjective) (see etymology 1) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs). From subtle (adjective). ==== Verb ==== subtle (third-person singular simple present subtles, present participle subtling, simple past and past participle subtled) (transitive) (chiefly US) To make (something) subtle (“giving only a slight impression; also, skilfully restrained or understated”). (obsolete, rare, uncertain) To burn (someone or something) to ash. ===== Derived terms ===== outsubtle subtling (noun) ===== Translations ===== === References === === Further reading === subtle (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “subtle”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “subtle”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. === Anagrams === bluest, butles, sublet, bustle, Bustle, bluets