Pronunciations (4)
-
/ˈsʌtl̩/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/ˈsʌtəl/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
-
[ˈsʌɾɫ̩]
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
-
ˈsʌt(ə)l
Adjective
Senses relating to tangible things. Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
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.
Senses relating to tangible things. Having a delicate or fine substance or texture; hence, exquisite, refined.
Usage- Archaic
Senses relating to tangible things. Slender, thin.
Usage- Archaic
Senses relating to tangible things. Of a substance: finely powdered; also, of particles of a substance: very fine or small.
Usage- Archaic
Senses relating to tangible things. Of weight: after the tare (“weight of an empty container”) has been subtracted; net.
Usage- Archaic
- Antonyms
Senses relating to tangible things. 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.
Usage- Historical
Senses relating to tangible things. Synonym of subtile (“of a ship: narrow, slender”).
Usage- Obsolete
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.
- Antonyms
Senses relating to intangible things. Giving only a slight impression; elusive, indistinct; also, skilfully restrained or understated.
- Examples
-
The difference between the tones is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
More examples (1)
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.
Senses relating to intangible things. Of an artist, a musician, etc.: having a light touch; sensitive.
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person: sensitive to the feelings of others; discreet, tactful.
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person, their intellect or mind, etc.: discerning, perceptive, shrewd, wise.
- Examples
-
[T]his heauenly foode is giuen for the ſatisfying of our emptie ſoules, and not for the exerciſing of our curious and ſubtle vvits.
More examples (1)
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.
VVhen ſubtle VVits have ſpun their thred too fine, / Tis vveak and fragile like Arachnes line: […]
More examples (3)
[Tomaso] Malvenda, a Spaniſh divine, vvho took the conduct of the debate on the part of the Catholics, managed it vvith all the ſubtle dexterity of a ſcholaſtic metaphyſician, more ſtudious to perplex his adverſaries than to convince them, and more intent on palliating error than on diſcovering truth.
The most subtle and powerful intellects have been labouring for centuries to solve these difficulties.
Like a peripatetic philosopher, Mr. Verloc, strolling along the streets of London, had modified Stevie's view of the police by conversations full of subtle reasonings.
Senses relating to intangible things. Acting (especially causing harm) in a stealthy, often gradual, manner; insidious.
- Examples
-
And if King Edward be as true and iuſt, / As I am Subtle, Falſe, and Treacherous, […]
More examples (1)
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.
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person or their fingers or hands, their ability, etc.: dexterous, skilful.
Usage- Archaic
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person or animal, or of an action or words: clever or skilful in a crafty or devious way; cunning, sly, wily.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
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: […]
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.
More examples (1)
Yea, rede Terence and Plaut[us] aduiſedlie ouer, and ye ſhall finde in thoſe two wiſe writers, almoſt in euery commedie, no vnthriftie yong man, that is not brought there vnto, by the ſotle inticement of ſom lewd ſeruant.
He that is ſuttleleſt and fulleſt of ſhiftes, is the handſommeſt man: and ſuch kinde of dealing is eſteemed as a vertue.
More examples (8)
A ſubtle Traitor needs no Sophiſter.
Is not thy kindneſſe ſubtle, couetous, / If not a Vſuring kindneſſe, and as rich men deale Guifts, / Expecting in returne tvventy for one?
Now the ſerpent was more ſubtill then any beaſt of the field, which the lord God had made, and he ſaid vnto the woman, Yea, hath God ſaid, Ye ſhall not eat of euery tree of the garden?
Hovv ſoon hath Time the ſuttle theef of youth, / Stoln on his vving my three and tvventith yeer!
[H]e held on / His midnight ſearch, vvhere ſooneſt he might fine / The Serpent: him faſt ſleeping ſoon he found / In Labyrinth of many a round ſelf-rovvld, / His head the midſt, vvell ſtor'd vvith ſuttle vviles: […]
VVhy ſhould that / Cauſe thy [Jesus's] refuſal, ſaid the ſubtle Fiend [Satan], / Haſt thou not right to all Created things, / Ovve not all Creatures by juſt right to thee / Duty and Service, nor to ſtay till bid, / But tender all their povver?
Geryon, arise! and Gorgon, / Chimæra, and thou Sphinx, subtlest of fiends / Who ministered to Thebes Heaven's poisoned wine, / Unnatural love, and more unnatural hate: / These shall perform your task.
[T]hrough their ears, / The subtle witchcraft of his tongue / Unlocked the hearts of those who keep / Gold, the world's bond of slavery.
Senses relating to intangible things. Of ground used for bowling: not smooth; uneven.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
-
Like to a Bovvle vpon a ſubtle ground / I haue tumbled paſt the throvv: […]
[V]pon Tityus his breſt, that (for ſixe of the nine acres) is counted the ſubtleſt bovvling-ground in all Tartary.
Senses relating to intangible things. Of an object: cleverly contrived or made; also, of a plan, etc.: cleverly contrived or carried out.
Usage- Obsolete
Noun
People or things that are subtle (adjective sense) as a class.
Usage- Uncountable
Verb
To make (something) subtle (“giving only a slight impression; also, skilfully restrained or understated”).
Usage- US usage
- Transitive
To burn (someone or something) to ash.
Usage- Obsolete
- Rare
- Transitive
- Examples
-
A fire ſubtle ye, are ye ſo crafty.
Adjective
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
his whole attitude had undergone a subtle change
a subtle difference
More examples (1)
that elusive thing the soul
able to make fine distinctions
- Examples
-
a subtle mind
working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
glaucoma is an insidious disease
a subtle poison