adv. Forms: α. 4–5 sotel(l)y, -illy, -ylly, sutely, 4–6 suttelly, 5–6 suttely, (4 sotelliche, -elych, -il(l)iche, -ylleche, suteli, -elly, -il(l)i, -illy, 5 sotelyche, -yly, Sc. sutailly, -ellye, suttilly, 6 sottelye, sut(t)ellie, suttully), 6–7 suttly. β. 6 subtel(l)y, 6–7 (9) subtlely, 6– subtly. [f. SUBTLE a. + -LY2. Cf. SUBTILLY.]

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  1.  Cleverly, dexterously, skilfully; ingeniously, artfully, cunningly. arch.

2

  α.  c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3117. We be so sotiliche be-sewed in þise hides.

3

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 425. It was i-made sotilliche by gravynge craft.

4

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 3038. Hir ene … Full sutelly set, Serklyt with heris On the browes so bryght.

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c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., xliii. 170 (Harl. MS.). To have a sherte sotelyche I-made for his body.

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c. 1550.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 140. Tabletis of gold,… With Saphiris set so suttellie and sound.

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1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 207. Thou seest How suttly to detaine thee I devise.

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  β.  1687.  Settle, Refl. Dryden, 65. Subtly contrived too.

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1859.  FitzGerald, Omar, lxi. That He who subtly wrought me into Shape Should stamp me back to common Earth again.

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  2.  With subtle thought or argument; with nice or fine-drawn distinctions.

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c. 1315.  Shoreham, VII. 203. Hare oȝe wyt, hyt hym by-kecheþ, Þat god so sotylleche secheþ, Þat syt so heȝe.

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a. 1513.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. ccxlv. (1811), 288. It is ouer subtely excused, or soo darkely … wryten, that the reder therof shall hardely come to ye knowlege of the trouthe.

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1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. xiii. (1634), 54. In too subtlely pearcing into the high misterie.

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1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. (1641), 18/1. I know how subtly greatest Clerks Presume to argue in their learned Works.

15

1749.  Hartley, Observ. Man, I. iv. Concl. 512. Matter and Motion, however subtly divided, or reasoned upon, yield nothing more than Matter and Motion still.

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1829.  Lytton, Devereux, II. viii. Let us not talk of these Matters so subtly.

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1884.  Punch, 23 Feb., 87/1.

                    The subtly-woven length
Of his audacious argument bore down
Your duller souls.

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  † 3.  With craft or guile; craftily, treacherously, deceitfully, insidiously. Obs.

19

  α.  c. 1325.  Poem times Edw. II., lxiv. (Percy Soc.), 29. Sotelych for-sothe Thei don the kyngs hest; Whan ech man hath his parte The kyngs hath the lest.

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1340.  Ayenb., 26. Þo byeþ ypocrites sotyls, þet sotilliche wylleþ heȝe cliue.

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1414.  26 Pol. Poems, xiii. 63. Mede wiþ poyson sotyly is maynt.

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a. 1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 254. I wes dissymblit suttelly in a sanctis liknes.

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1535.  Coverdale, Acts vii. 19. The same dealte suttely with oure kynred.

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1600.  Holland, Livy, XXXV. xiv. 896. How suttelly and cautelously he had like a cunning Carthaginian, couched his words in a certeine kind of flatterie.

25

1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., I. v. 15. Suttly to cast a jealousie upon the Crowne.

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  β.  a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 220 b. Utteryng wonderous woordes, as she was before subtelly and craftely induced and taught.

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c. 1585.  [R. Browne], Answ. Cartwright, 24. Why did M. C. so subtlely set contrary to dumbe ministers, sufficient ministers?

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1658.  T. Wall, Charact. Enemies Ch., 62. Let them subtlely insinuate necessary defence, sure enough the preparations they make shew a delight in war.

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1727.  De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. iv. (1840), 95. The Devil takes this for a handle, and subtly makes Canaan dream.

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  4.  Delicately, finely.

31

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, I. 219. In the nice bee, what sense so subtly true, From pois’nous herbs extracts the healing dew?

32

1849.  Ruskin, Seven Lamps, v. § 12. 147. The Pisan front is far more subtly proportioned.

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1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., xvi. This subtly-poised physical susceptibility.

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  5.  In a manner that defies observation, analysis or explanation.

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1854.  Milman, Lat. Chr., IV. i. II. 9. [Mohammedanism] dealt prodigally in angelic appearances, and believed in another incorporeal, or, rather, subtly-corporeal race, beween angels and men.

36

1874.  Green, Short Hist., iv. § 1. 157. The song passes swiftly and subtly into a world of romantic sentiment.

37

1879.  Farrar, St. Paul, I. 157. Apology and demonstration are subtly blended throughout his appeal.

38

1890.  W. C. Brownell, in Scribner’s Mag., Jan., 18–9. A very strong impression of French superiority was very subtly instilled.

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1912.  Times, 19 Oct., 5/2. A religious intolerance as subtly vicious as was ever the fanatical impetus of the Crescent.

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