[ad. med.L. subtīlizātio, -ōnem, n. of action f. subtilizāre to SUBTILIZE. Cf. F. subtilisation (from 16th c.), Sp. su(b)tilizacion.]
1. The action of the vb. SUBTILIZE; the sublimation or rarefaction of a substance.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1318. They burne incense by kindling Rosin, for to clense and purifie the aire by this rarefaction and subtilization.
1705. C. Purshall, Mech. Macrocosm, 85. By divers Percolations, and Subtilizations, to get their specifying Parts for the Meliorating of Mettals.
1715. Cheyne, Philos. Princ., I. i. 14. It having been always found that their [sc. fluids’] Resistances were proportional to their Densities. So that no Subtilization, Division of parts, or Refining can alter their Resistances.
1726. Gentl. Mag., LVI. 169. It is … inconceivable … that any … subtilisation, or modification of matter should render it capable of perceiving.
1837. Harris, Gt. Teacher, 213. If the soul resulted from any subtilization, juxtaposition, or combinations of brute atoms.
fig. 1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics (1860), I. IV. ii. 96. The excessive subtilisation of the One contributes toward the worship of the Manifold.
1882. Stallo, in Nature, XXVI. 542. To convert facts into ideas by a process of dwindling or subtilisation.
2. The drawing of subtle distinctions; over-refinement of argument, etc.
1755. Johnson, Subtilization,… Refinement; superfluous acuteness.
1812. W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., LXVIII. 503. Saint John of Damascus … introduced to Europe the oriental subtilizations about points of faith.
1833. New Monthly Mag., XXXVII. 339. Is his plan practicable? Is it not destroyed by its very subtilization?
