Subtile \Sub"tile\, a. [L. subtilis. See Subtile.]
1. Thin; not dense or gross; rare; as, subtile air; subtile
vapor; a subtile medium.
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2. Delicately constituted or constructed; nice; fine;
delicate; tenuous; finely woven. "A sotil [subtile]
twine's thread." --Chaucer.
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More subtile web Arachne can not spin. --Spenser.
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I do distinguish plain
Each subtile line of her immortal face. --Sir J.
Davies.
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3. Acute; piercing; searching.
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The slow disease and subtile pain. --Prior.
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5. Characterized by nicety of discrimination; discerning;
delicate; refined; subtle. [In this sense now commonly
written subtle.]
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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.
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The subtile influence of an intellect like
Emerson's. --Hawthorne.
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5. Sly; artful; cunning; crafty; subtle; as, a subtile
person; a subtile adversary; a subtile scheme. [In this
sense now commonly written subtle.]
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Syn: Subtile, Acute.
Usage: 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.
[1913 Webster] -- Sub"tile*ly, adv. --
Sub"tile*ness, n.
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