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Webster 1913 Edition

Subtile

Sub′tile

,
Adj.
[L.
subtilis
. See
Subtile
.]
1.
Thin; not dense or gross; rare;
as,
subtile
air;
subtile
vapor; a
subtile
medium
.
2.
Delicately constituted or constructed; nice; fine; delicate; tenuous; finely woven.
“A sotil [subtile] twine’s thread.”
Chaucer.
More
subtile
web Arachne can not spin.
Spenser.
I do distinguish plain
Each
subtile
line of her immortal face.
Sir J. Davies.
3.
Acute; piercing; searching.
The slow disease and
subtile
pain.
Prior.
5.
Characterized by nicety of discrimination; discerning; delicate; refined; subtle.
[In this sense now commonly written
subtle
.]
The genius of the Spanish people is exquisitely
subtile
, without being at all acute; hence there is so much humor and so little wit in their literature. The genius of the Italians, on the contrary, is acute, profound, and sensual, but not
subtile
; hence what they think to be humorous, is merely witty.
Coleridge.
The
subtile
influence of an intellect like Emerson's.
Hawthorne.
5.
Sly; artful; cunning; crafty; subtle;
as, a
subtile
person; a
subtile
adversary; a
subtile
scheme.
[In this sense now commonly written
subtle
.]
Syn. –
Subtile
,
Acute
.
In acute the image is that of a needle's point; in subtile that of a thread spun out to fineness. The acute intellect pierces to its aim; the subtile (or subtle) intellect winds its way through obstacles.
–
Sub′tile-ly
,
adv.
–
Sub′tile-ness
,
Noun.

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