subtle

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil, borrowed from Old French soutil, subtil, from Latin subtīlis (fine, thin, slender, delicate); probably, originally, “woven fine”, and from sub (under) + tēla (a web), from texere (to weave). Displaced native Old English smēag (literally creeping).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈsʌt(ə)l/, [ˈsʌɾɫ̩], enPR: sŭt'(ə)l
  • Rhymes: -ʌtəl
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

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subtle (comparative subtler or more subtle, superlative subtlest or most subtle)

  1. Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood.
    Antonym: simple
  2. Barely noticeable, not obvious, indistinct.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:indistinct
    Antonyms: distinct; see also Thesaurus:distinct
    The difference is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
    • 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.
  3. (of a thing) Cleverly contrived.
  4. (of a person or animal) Cunning, skillful.
    Synonyms: crafty, cunning, skillful
  5. Insidious.
    Synonyms: deceptive, malicious
  6. Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.
  7. (obsolete) Refined; exquisite.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

References

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Anagrams

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