About The Word Subtile
Learn about the word Subtile to help solve your crossword puzzle. Discover Subtile definitions and meaning, origins, synonyms, related terms and more at the free Crossword Dictionary.
Subtile
Subtile Definition And Meaning |
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What's The Definition Of Subtile?Synonyms | Synonyms for Subtile: Related Terms | Find terms related to Subtile: See Also | Subtile In Webster's Dictionary \Sub"tile\, a. [L. subtilis. See {Subtile}.]
1. Thin; not dense or gross; rare; as, subtile air; subtile
vapor; a subtile medium.
2. Delicately constituted or constructed; nice; fine;
delicate; tenuous; finely woven. ``A sotil [subtile]
twine's thread.'' --Chaucer.
More subtile web Arachne can not spin. --Spenser.
I do distinguish plain Each subtile line of her
immortal face. --Sir J.
Davies.
3. Acute; piercing; searching.
The slow disease and subtile pain. --Prior.
5. Characterized by nicety of discrimination; discerning;
delicate; refined; subtle. [In this sense now commonly
written {subtle}.]
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.
The subtile influence of an intellect like
Emerson's. --Hawthorne.
5. Sly; artful; cunning; crafty; subtle; as, a subtile
person; a subtile adversary; a subtile scheme. [In this
sense now commonly written {subtle}.]
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. --
{Sub"tile*ly}, adv. -- {Sub"tile*ness}, n.
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