adj.
Pronunciation: ' s ə -t ə l
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: sub · tler \ ' s ə t-l ə r, ' s ə -t ə l- ə r \ ; sub · tlest \ ' s ə t-l ə st, ' s ə -t ə l- ə st \
Etymology: Middle English sotil, subtile, from Anglo-French, from Latin subtilis, literally, finely textured, from sub- + tela cloth on a loom; akin to Latin texere to weave ― more at TECHNICAL
Date: 14th century
1 a : DELICATE , ELUSIVE <a subtle fragrance> b : difficult to understand or perceive : OBSCURE < subtle differences in sound>
2 a : PERCEPTIVE , REFINED <a writer's sharp and subtle moral sense> b : having or marked by keen insight and ability to penetrate deeply and thoroughly <a subtle scholar>
3 a : highly skillful : EXPERT <a subtle craftsman> b : cunningly made or contrived : INGENIOUS
4 : ARTFUL , CRAFTY <a subtle rogue>
5 : operating insidiously < subtle poisons>
– sub · tle · ness \ ' s ə -t ə l-n ə s \ noun
– sub · tly \ ' s ə t-l ē , ' s ə -t ə l-(l) ē \ adverb