adv. Now rare or Obs. Forms: α. 4, 6 subtyly, 5 -tylliche, -telly, 5–6 -tylly, 5–7 -tily, 6 -til(l)ie, 7 -tilley, 4– subtilly. β. 6– subtilely. [f. subtil, SUBTILE a. + -LY2. (Cf. SUBTLY.)]
1. Thinly; finely; in a rarefied manner or form.
α. a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 86. Ich on of þise bi þamself be ful subtily gronden on a stone.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 369. The aire was full of formes … which subtilly and as it were by euaporation, infuse themselues into the eies.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. v. 84. A dram thereof [sc. glass], subtilly powdered in butter.
1711. J. Greenwood, Engl. Gram., 297. If the Breath go more subtilly or thinly out of the Mouth.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 107. Subtilly pulverized Venice glass.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., II. 423. This iron being unoxygenated, subtilly divided, and dispersed through the whole mass.
β. 1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 28/3. If … the blood issue out of the same to subtilely.
1757. Phil. Trans., I. 164. Whilst the gold continues subtilely divided.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 428. Provided its particles be so subtilely divided and suspended [etc.].
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 152. The vapour from the ley … will penetrate the goods, and operate so subtilely as to disengage the carbonic resin.
2. Craftily, cunningly, insidiously; = SUBTLY 3.
α. c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 797, Thisbe. At nygh[t] sche stal a weyful pryuyly With hire face I-wymplid subtyly. Ibid. (c. 1386), Pard. T., 237. This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly In othere wynes growynge faste by. Ibid. (c. 1386), Merch. T., 759. And subtilly this lettre doun she threste Vnder his pilwe.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XI. vi. (1555), F j. Pryuely The morall sense they cloke full subtyly, In prayse or dysprayse.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., IV. iii. 25. A poyson which the Frier Subtilly hath ministred to haue me dead.
1611. Bible, Ps. cv. 25. To deale subtilly with his seruants.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Envy (Arb.), 517. Enuy worketh subtilly, and in the darke.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 207. Divers persons having provisions of the Pope … have … subtilly excluded divers persons of their benefices.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, ii. 214. When he sees his light serve only to aid us the more subtilly to contrive our deeds of darkness.
1668. Rolle, Abridgm., 91/11. Le Defendant Craftily and subtilly intending to deceive and cozen the Plaintiff … affirmed … that the said Gelding was then his own.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., I. i. 9. This mischief diffuses itself still more subtilly in philosophy.
β. 1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 261. It was said it was so subtilely and dangerously laid, that it was impossible to prevent it, if divers of them had not been committed.
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. iv. (1840), 101. You will find the Devil subtilely insinuating dreams into the heads of … great Men.
1831. Sir W. Napier, Penins. War, XII. i. (1840), III. 418. The majority of that assembly were so subtilely dealt with by Pedro Souza, that they privately admitted Carlotta’s claims.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. III. ii. Our glorious Revolution is subtilely, by black traitors … perverted to do it.
3. Cleverly, dexterously; = SUBTLY 1. Also, with acuteness or perspicacity.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), V. v. (1859), 76. Among [the precious stones] … ben sette, wonder subtylly, sterres of huge light.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, III. i. The shepherde … with a nydle subtylly drewe oute of his foote the thorne.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xviii. 48. Gude James the Ferd … said full subtillie, ‘Do weill, and sett not by demying.’
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VIII. x. 70. The speyr, and eyk the scheild so subtylly Forgit.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Cyrurg., L iij b. Whan they be drye sewe then subtylly, and the lyppes wyl reioyne togydre.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 46. They of liuing fire most subtilly Were made, and set in siluer sockets bright.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 44. They fill the hole with a tincture, or bind it with a ring, or more subtilly, when they work up the leaves of the balasius into the form of diamonds.
† 4. Of physical perceptions: Keenly, acutely. Obs.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. lxxii. (1869), 42. This heeringe knoweth more subtylliche, and apperceyueth more cleerliche.
5. With subtle distinctions; by subtle argument; = SUBTLY 2.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 586. Sometimes again, this Philosopher subtilly distinguisheth, betwixt νόησις αὐτή … and τὸ νοοῦν or τὸ ἔχον τὴν νόησιν.
a. 1694. Tillotson, Serm. (Phil. iii. 8), Wks. (1714), 65. Others have sought to ease themselves of all the evil of affliction by disputing subtilly against it.
1853. Whewell, Grotius, II. 295. These matters might be divided more subtilly.
1860. S. Wilberforce, Addr. Cand. Ordin., 69. That vast and subtilly contrived system of external formalism.
