SUBTLE


Meaning of SUBTLE in English

[ 'sʌt(ə)l ]

■ adjective ( ~r , ~st )

1》 so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe: a ~ distinction.

↘capable of making fine distinctions.

↘delicately complex and understated: ~ lighting.

2》 making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something.

3》 archaic crafty; cunning.

Derivatives

~ness noun

~ty noun ( plural ~ties ).

subtly adverb

Origin

ME: from OFr. sotil , from L. subtilis .

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.