[sub.tle] adj sub.tler ; sub.tlest [ME sutil, sotil, fr. MF soutil, fr. L subtilis, lit., finely textured, fr. sub- + tela cloth on a loom; akin to L texere to weave--more at technical] (14c) 1 a: delicate, elusive "a ~ fragrance" b: difficult to understand or perceive: obscure "~ differences in sound"
2. a: perceptive, refined "a writer's sharp and ~ moral sense" b: having or marked by keen insight and ability to penetrate deeply and thoroughly "a ~ scholar" 3 a: highly skillful: expert "a ~ craftsman" b: cunningly made or contrived: ingenious
4: artful, crafty "a ~ rogue"
5: operating insidiously "~ poisons" -- sub.tle.ness n -- sub.tly adv