Definify.com

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.

Definition 2024


subtile

subtile

English

Adjective

subtile (comparative subtiler, superlative subtilest)

  1. (obsolete) subtle
    • 1819, Francis Bacon, The Works of Francis Bacon, volume 2, page 2:
      And sometimes this perception, in some kind of bodies, is far more subtile than the sense; so that the sense is but a dull thing in comparison of it: we see a weather-glass will find the least difference of the weather, in heat, or cold, when men find it not.
    • 1889, Henry James, The Solution.
      I burst into mirth at this—I liked him even better when he was subtile than when he was simple.

Derived terms

External links

  • subtile in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • subtile in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

French

Adjective

subtile

  1. feminine singular of subtil

German

Adjective

subtile

  1. inflected form of subtil

Latin

Adjective

subtīle

  1. nominative neuter singular of subtīlis
  2. accusative neuter singular of subtīlis
  3. vocative neuter singular of subtīlis

References


Swedish

Adjective

subtile

  1. absolute definite natural masculine form of subtil.