Subtle a.

Forms: α. 3–7 sotill, 4–5 -el, -il(le, -yl(e, 4–6 -ell, 5–6 -yll, (4 -ele, -ile, -ylle, soutil, -yle, 5 sotule, 6 sot(t)le); 4–5 sutell, -il, 4–6 -el, 5–6 suttell, -ill, 5–7 suttle, 6–7 sutle (4 sutile, -ill, 5 -elle, -ille, suttyle, Sc. sutaille, suttale, sittell, 6 sut(t)yll). β. 6– subtle. [a. OF. soutil, sotil, sutil (12th c.), mod.F. subtil (see SUBTILE) = Pr. sotil, It. sottile, Sp. sutil, Pg. subtil:—L. subtīlem, nom. -īlis, for *subtēlis:—*subtexlis app. finely woven, f. sub under + *texlā, tēla woven stuff, web (cf. TEXTURE).

  In the 1st Folio of Shakespeare the instances are about equally divided between the spellings subtle and subtil(e, -ill. In the first editions of Milton’s poems the spelling suttle (with suttlety, suttly) is the only one, except in Paradise Regained, which has subtle (with subtilty).]

  1.  Of thin consistency, tenuous; not dense, rarefied; hence, penetrating, pervasive or elusive by reason of tenuity (now chiefly of odors).

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 1050. Þurȝ woȝe & won my lokyng ȝede, For sotyle cler moȝt lette no lyȝt.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), iii. 9. Abouen on þir hilles es þe aer so clere and so sutill þat men may fele na wynd þare.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., lxiv. 240. Sutil and thyn spetil that descendyth … fro the Palete of the mouth to the tonge.

a. 1566.  R. Edwards, Damon & Pithias (1571), C ij b. But mee thinkes, this is a pleasant Citie, The Seate is good,… The Ayre subtle and fine.

1660.  Boyle, New Exp. Phys.-Mech., ix. 74. The most subtle Chymical Spirits.

1665.  Dryden, Ind. Emp., II. i. Arise ye subtle Spirits, that can spy.

1799.  Med. Jrnl., I. 250. There was only one part of the air, namely, the most subtle and elastic, that could be called vital.

1842.  Browning, In a Gondola, 33. The Arab sage In practising with gems can loose Their subtle spirit in his cruce And leave but ashes.

1863.  Tyndall, Heat, ii. 23. The material theory supposes heat to be … a subtle fluid stored up in the inter-atomic spaces of bodies.

1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xix. A sweet and subtle odour seemed to wrap her round in its seductive atmosphere.

  2.  Of fine or delicate texture or composition. Obs. exc. arch.

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. xix. 9. Plattende and weuende sotile thingus.

a. 1662.  Heylin, Laud, II. (1668), 331. Many a fine and subtle Carpet.

1705.  Atterbury, Serm., Luke xvi. 31 (1726), II. ii. 65. Their fine and subtle Texture [sc. of the works of nature].

1790.  Cowper, Odyss., XIX. 173. A robe Of amplest measure and of subtlest woof.

1827.  Keble, Chr. Y., Sun. bef. Adv., x. Thinner than the subtlest lawn.

  † b.  Of food: Delicate, light. Obs.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 2923. Þare sesonde was a soper þe sotelest vndire heuen.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., lxii. 239. Sotyll diet is beste.

c. 1450.  Capgrave, Life St. Aug., 47. Grete wast was not in his hous of sotil metes.

  † 3.  Of small thickness or breadth; thin, slender, fine. Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, Lev. xiii. 30. The heer ȝalow, and sotiler than it is wont.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1172. The sharpe swerd ouer his heed Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed.

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reason & Sens., 1150. Hir clothing … Wroght and wove … With sotil thredes softe and smale.

1460–70.  Bk. Quinte Essence, 9. If ȝe wole not make lymayl of gold, þanne make þerof a sotil þinne plate.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. ii. 151. No Orifex for a point as subtle, As Ariachnes broken woofe to enter.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 129. Tools of sharp and subtle Edges.

  † b.  Of a ship: = SUBTILE 3 b. Obs.

1511.  Guylforde’s Pilgr. (Camden), 7. An C Galyes, grete bastardes and sotell.

  † 4.  Finely powdered; (of particles) fine, minute.

1394.  in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 60. [The unjust mode of garbling spices and other] sotill wares.

1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 16818. The Sotyl smale Sandys and gravell off the See.

c. 1460.  J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 57. Loke þy salte be sutille, whyte, fayre and drye.

1460–70.  Bk. Quinte Essence, 4. Selid with þe seel of lute of wijsdom, maad of þe sotillest flour.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v. Sublimable, Giving wings, as it were, to its subtle particles, so that they may ascend with its easily sublimable matter.

  5.  Of immaterial things: Not easily grasped, understood or perceived; † intricate, abstruse.

  (Now merged in sense 6.)

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1794. Þe dede es swa sutil and pryve, Þat na man may it properly se.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 2603. Sechande towarde cisile þe sotilest weyes.

1357.  Lay Folks’ Catech. (L.), 244. We schul wele wyte þat þese thre thyngys ben wel sotel and diuers.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 48. Alle þe sciences vnder sonne and alle þe sotyle craftes I wolde I knewe.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 69. Curious and sotil artes and sciens.

1616.  B. Jonson, Devil an Ass, II. i. 114. There’s not place, To gi’ you demonstration of these things. They are a little to subtle.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 192. Things remote From use, obscure and suttle.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 167. The subtler Words and Notions are, the nearer they are to Nonsense.

  6.  Fine or delicate, esp. to such an extent as to elude observation or analysis.

1639.  W. Cartwright, Royal Slave, II. i. Kings’ pleasures are more subtle than to be Seen by the vulgar.

a. 1648.  Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 449. I told her it should be no pain, it was so sotell (for so is his word).

1805.  Wordsw., Prelude, I. 549. How other pleasures have been mine, and joys of subtler origin.

1849.  Ruskin, Seven Lamps, v. § 9. 144. The seven are in a most subtle alternating proportion.

1855.  Bain, Senses & Int., II. iii. § 20. 569. Many inconsistencies are too subtle for the detection of an ordinary mind.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. vi. 7. The influence of the popes in England was of that subtle kind which was not so readily defeated.

1879.  Good Words, Dec., 831/1. What subtle associations will recall the phantoms of the past.

  7.  Of craftsmen, etc.: Skilful, clever, expert, dexterous. (Const. of.) arch.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 325. First in his witte he all purueid His werc, als dos þe sotill wright.

a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 688. Of song sotil and wys.

13[?].  Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xlix. 339. Þe more sotil he is of þat art.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 362. [He] made … a Chekier of golde and Ivory half parted, ffor he was right sotill of soche crafte.

1821.  Byron, Two Foscari, IV. i. I … bribed no subtle master Of the destructive art.

1859.  FitzGerald, Omar, xliii. The subtle Alchemist that [can] in a Trice Life’s leaden Metal into Gold transmute.

  b.  transf.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1191. With soutil pencel was depeynted this storie.

1422.  Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., lviii. 220. He is of sotille ymagynacion as of hand-werkys.

1703.  Prior, Advice to Painter, 22, Wks. 1907, II. 290. All Nature’s Gifts refin’d by subtlest Art.

1867.  Ruskin, Time & Tide, ii. § 7. To attain … more subtle and exemplary skill in his own craft.

1880.  Smiles, Duty, iii. 50. The Indians are clever workmen, with ingenious, subtle fingers.

  c.  Of animals. rare.

  † Subtle jack: ? the weaver-bird.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. i. 96. The valued file Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle.

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. II. 68. Subtle Jacks are Birds as big as Pigeons…. They are called by the English Subtle Jacks, because of this uncommon way of building.

1854.  Poultry Chron., I. 419. The … most subtle, cunning, sharpest-flying Pigeon for Homeing.

  † 8.  Of things: Characterized by cleverness or ingenuity in conception or execution; cleverly designed or executed, artfully contrived. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4750. In sum bok find i þar a wile þat ioseph fand þat was sutile.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 32. Sa sutell purchass can he ma, That he gert tak thame euirilkane.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XI. 207. For god seith hit hymself ‘shal neuere good appel Þorw no sotel science on sour stock growe.’

1473.  Warkw., Chron. (Camden), 26. He … with a sotule poynte of werre, gate and enteryd Seynt Michaels Mount.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 727. From the arched roof Pendant by suttle Magic many a row Of Starry Lamps.

  9.  Of persons, their faculties, actions: Characterized by penetration, acumen or discrimination. Now with implication of (excessive) refinement or nicety of thought, speculation or argument.

  α.  13[?].  Cursor M., 13443 (Gött.). Of godspellers he was þe ferth. Marc, luca, mathe, his felaus, Bot iohn was sotilest in saus.

1340.  Ayenb., 24. Sotil wyt wel uor to vynde.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Merch. T., 183. Sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 808. Two phylozophirs … In the seuyne scyence the suteleste fondene.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., xvi. 55 (Add. MS.). The second best counseilour, and the thirde the sotelest enserchour.

1502.  Atkynson, trans. De Imitatione, I. v. (1893), 157. The fame of sotell phylosophers.

1579.  G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 71. Y^e suttle and intricate acumen of Aristotle.

c. 1597.  in Harington’s Nugæ Ant. (1804), I. 188. The narrowest examiners and suttellest distinguyshers of wordes.

1644.  Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 68. A Nation not slow and dull, but … acute to invent, suttle and sinewy to discours.

  β.  1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxvii. 176. Not for the exercising of our curious & subtle wits.

1769.  Robertson, Chas. V., VII. III. 62. The subtle dexterity of a scholastic metaphysician.

1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. 115. The young how brave, how subtle were the old.

1814.  Byron, Ode Napoleon, viii. A subtle disputant on creeds.

1840.  Macaulay, Ess., Ranke’s Hist. (1897), 549. Subtle speculations touching the Divine attributes.

1842.  H. Rogers, Introd. Burke’s Wks., I. 40. A close and subtle analysis of the mental phenomena.

1844.  Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxvi. The laws of sympathy between beards and birds … are questions for the subtle reasoning of scientific bodies.

1872.  Freeman, Gen. Sk. Eur. Hist., v. 97. As the Greeks had in old times produced so many subtle philosophers, so they now produced equally subtle divines.

  † 10.  Of persons or animals: Crafty, cunning; treacherously or wickedly cunning, insidiously sly, wily. Obs.

  α.  1357.  Lay Folks’ Catech. (L.), 1220. Þey be mysdoers, sotel, and slyhtful dysseyuers.

1446.  Lydg., Night. Poems, I. 136. Whom that the sotell serpent can deceyue.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 273. Suthroun ar full sutaille euirilk man.

1535.  Coverdale, Gen. iii. 1. The serpent was sotyller then all the beastes of the felde.

1559.  Mirr. Mag. (1563), D j. The Wolfe doth spoyle, the suttle Fox doth pyke.

1583.  Golding, Calvin on Deut. iii. xvi. 94/1. He that is suttlelest and fullest of shiftes.

1631.  Milton, Sonn., vii. 1. How soon hath Time the suttle theef of youth, Stoln on his wing my three and twentith yeer! Ibid. (1667), P. L., VII. 495. The Serpent suttl’st Beast of all the field.

  β.  1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., V. i. 191. A subtle Traitor needs no Sophister. Ibid. (1598), Merry W., III. i. 103. Am I subtle? Am I a Machiuell?

1671.  Milton, P. R., I. 465. The subtle Fiend … Dissembl’d, and this answer smooth return’d.

1709.  E. W., Donna Rosina, 67. I’ll tell you what I would do, said this Subtle Baggage.

1781.  Cowper, Conversat., 809. The subtle and injurious may be just, And he grown chaste that was the slave of lust.

  † b.  Of actions, thoughts, etc. Obs.

  α.  c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 278. Þe sotil amortasynge of seculer lordischipis þat is don bi menene hondis in fraude of þe kyngis statute. Ibid. (1382), 2 Cor. xi. 3. The serpent disceyuede Eue with his sutil wordis.

1429.  Rolls of Parlt., IV. 349/1. Grete damagis and sotil deceitis.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 84. Be suttale band thai cordyt of this thing.

c. 1510.  More, Picus, Wks. 23. Against euery sottle suggestion of vice.

a. 1568.  Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 55. The sotle inticement of som lewd seruant.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 184. His head…, well stor’d with suttle wiles.

  β.  1607.  Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 515. Is not thy kindness subtle, couetous?

1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 308. All his tedious talk is but vain boast, Or subtle shifts conviction to evade.

  † c.  Of ground: Tricky. Obs.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., V. ii. 20. Like to a Bowle vpon a subtle ground I haue tumbled past the throw.

1630.  B. Jonson, Chloridia, B. Vpon Tityus his brest, that (for sixe of the nine acres) is counted the subtlest bowling-ground in all Tartary.

  11.  Working imperceptibly or secretly, insidious.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 316. I feele this youths perfections with an inuisible, and subtle stealth To creepe in at mine eyes.

1788.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., xliii. IV. 331. The winds might diffuse that subtle venom.

1818.  Byron, Ch. Har., IV. cxxxvi. From the loud roar of foaming calumny To the small whisper of the as paltry few, And subtler venom of the reptile crew.

1878.  Masque Poets, 25. What subtle drug shall give release with slightest pain before it slay.

  † 12.  Of weight: = SUBTILE 12 a; now SUTTLE. Obs.

1622.  Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 22. The Custome of Antuerp is to weigh by the hundreth pounds euen weight called Subtle, for the which commonly there is allowed at the weigh-house 101 lb.

1636.  in Foster, Crt. Min. E. Ind. Comp. (1907), 203. 500. wt. subtle of pepper.

  13.  Comb. chiefly parasynthetic adjs., as subtle-brained, -cadenced, -headed, -meshed, -nosed, -paced, -scented, -shadowed, -souled, -thoughted, -tongued, -witted. Also objective, as subtle-subtilising vbl. sb.

1603.  Florio, Montaigne, II. xvii. (1632), 366. The more … *subtle-brained a man is, the more is he hated.

1818.  Keats, Endym., I. 493. ’Twas a lay More *subtle cadenced … Than Dryope’s lone lulling of her child.

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. xvii. 4. There bee some *suttleheaded persones, which mark other mennes dooinges narowly.

1596.  Spenser, View St. Ireland, Wks. (Globe), 618/2. Yet will some one or other suttle-headed fellowe … pike some quirke.

1907.  Academy, 10 Aug., 766/1. On that side he laid a *subtle-meshed web from end to end.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 32. The *suttlenosed [F. gaudisseurs] and babbling men do easily mock out this.

1830.  Tennyson, Isabel, 21. A most silver flow Of *subtle-paced counsel in distress.

1871.  Rossetti, Poems, Love’s Nocturn, xv. So do mounting vapours wreathe *Subtle-scented transports.

1609.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, VII. xiv. Here Scottish border broyles, and feares of Fraunce,… Brought forth a *suttle-shadowed countenance.

1819.  Shelley, Peter Bell 3rd, V. ii. He was a mighty poet—and A *subtle-souled psychologist.

1860.  Symonds, in Life (1895), I. 362. Refinements and *subtle-subtilisings of all sorts.

1830.  Tennyson, Ode to Memory, 118. Those whom passion hath not blinded, *Subtle-thoughted, myriad-minded.

1639.  G. Daniel, Ecclus., xxi. 22. The proud Orator And *Subtle-Tongu’d Man.

1553.  Grimalde, Cicero’s Offices, III. (1558), 137. It is a part not … of a good man: but rather of a *suttlewitted.

1664.  Butler, Hud., II. iii. 470. But Sidrophel more subtle-witted, Cry’d out.

1820.  Shelley, Hymn Merc., lxvi. Jupiter … Laughed heartily to hear the subtle-witted Infant give such a plausible account.