Word: subtle Part of Speech: adj Etymology: 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. Pronunciation: /ˈsʌtl̩/, /ˈsʌtəl/, [ˈsʌɾɫ̩] 1. Senses relating to tangible things. Example: 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. 2. Senses relating to tangible things. Labels: archaic 3. Senses relating to tangible things. Labels: archaic 4. Senses relating to tangible things. Labels: archaic 5. Senses relating to tangible things. Labels: archaic 6. Senses relating to tangible things. Labels: historical 7. Senses relating to tangible things. Labels: obsolete 8. Senses relating to intangible things. 9. Senses relating to intangible things. Example: The difference between the tones is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully. Example: Although the show gradually grows more subtle, much of the early writing that establishes the characters is so on the nose it hurts. Any time we see Walt [Walter White] in class, it’s certain that what he writes on the chalkboard will echo events in his secret life. 10. Senses relating to intangible things. 11. Senses relating to intangible things. 12. Senses relating to intangible things. Example: [T]his heauenly foode is giuen for the ſatisfying of our emptie ſoules, and not for the exerciſing of our curious and ſubtle vvits. Example: Lords and Commons of England, conſider vvhat Nation it is vvherof ye are, and vvherof ye are the governours: a Nation not ſlovv and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing ſpirit, acute to invent, ſuttle and ſinevvy to diſcours, not beneath the reach of any point the higheſt that human capacity can ſoar to. 13. Senses relating to intangible things. Example: And if King Edward be as true and iuſt, / As I am Subtle, Falſe, and Treacherous, […] Example: As for thee, false friend, subtle fox, unfaithful servant, this long time am I grown weary of thee slinking up and down my palace devising darkly things I know not: thou, that art nought akin to Witchland, but an outlander, a Goblin exile, a serpent warmed in my bosom to my hurt. 14. Senses relating to intangible things. Labels: archaic 15. Senses relating to intangible things. Labels: archaic Example: If thou thinke thy ſelfe well fenſed and ſure, / Againſt euery ſottle ſuggeſtion of vice, / Conſider fraile glaſſe may no diſtres endure, / And great aduentures oft curſe the dire: […] Example: By vnion of the Godhed to the manhod, manne was ioyned to God whiche before by the temptacion of the ſubtle ſerpente, was from hym ſegregate and deuided. 16. Senses relating to intangible things. Labels: obsolete Example: Like to a Bovvle vpon a ſubtle ground / I haue tumbled paſt the throvv: […] Example: [V]pon Tityus his breſt, that (for ſixe of the nine acres) is counted the ſubtleſt bovvling-ground in all Tartary. 17. Senses relating to intangible things. Labels: obsolete