subtle

English

WOTD – 16 September 2025

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) enPR: sŭt'l, IPA(key): /ˈsʌtl̩/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsʌtəl/, [ˈsʌɾɫ̩]
  • Audio (General American); [ˈsʌɾɫ̩]:(file)
    (file)
  • Rhymes: -ʌtəl
  • Hyphenation: sub‧tle

Etymology 1

The adjective is derived from Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil (“of a person, the mind, etc.: clever, ingenious, penetrating; cunning, sly; insidious; delicate, fine; not dense, light, thin; finely powdered; narrow, slender; etc.”),[1] borrowed from Anglo-Norman sotel, subtil, sutil, Middle French soutil, subtil, sutil, and Old French sotil, soutil, subtil, sutil (“of an object: skilfully designed or made; delicate, fine; slender, thin; of an intangible thing: difficult to understand; of a person: discerning, shrewd; devious, sly; etc.”) (modern French subtil), from Latin subtīlis (“of texture: delicate, fine; slender, thin; accurate, keen; having fine judgment; etc.”), from sub (“below, under”) + tēla (“warp (threads running lengthwise in a loom); web”)[2] (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- (“to create, produce; to cut, hew”), from *teḱ- (“to beget, sire”)). The word displaced Old English smēag (literally “creeping”).

The modern and Middle English (and French) spellings with -b- are influenced by Latin subtīlis; the letter was probably never pronounced.[2]

The noun is derived from Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil (“wise person; sophisticated people collectively”),[1] from the adjective.[2]

Adjective

subtle (comparative subtler or more subtle, superlative subtlest or most subtle)

  1. Senses relating to tangible things.
    1. Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.
      • 1712, Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem. Demonstrating the Existence and Providence of a God. In Seven Books, book I, London: Printed for S. Buckley, at the Dolphin in Little-Britain; and J[acob] Tonson, at Shakespear's Head over-against Catherine-Street in the Strand, OCLC 731619916; 5th edition, Dublin: Printed by S. Powell, for G. Risk, G. Ewing, and W. Smith, in Dame's-street, 1727, OCLC 728300884, page 7:
        The mighty Magnet from the Center darts / This ſtrong, tho' ſubtile Force, thro' all the Parts: / Its active Rays ejaculated thence, / Irradiate all the wide Circumference.
    2. (archaic) Having a delicate or fine substance or texture; hence, exquisite, refined.
    3. (archaic) Slender, thin.
    4. (archaic) Of a substance: finely powdered; also, of particles of a substance: very fine or small.
    5. (archaic) Of weight: after the tare (“weight of an empty container”) has been subtracted; net.
      Antonym: gross
    6. (historical) Of a substance, especially a gas or liquid: of low density or thin consistency; rarefied, tenuous; hence, tending to spread everywhere due to this quality.
    7. (nautical, obsolete, rare except historical) Synonym of subtile (“of a ship: narrow, slender”).
  2. Senses relating to intangible things.
    1. Of an argument or concept, words, etc.: requiring one to distinguish between fine points, especially if it is difficult to do so; nice; also (generally), difficult to grasp; not easily understood or obvious.
      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:subtle
      Antonyms: simple, straightforward; see also Thesaurus:obvious
    2. Giving only a slight impression; elusive, indistinct; also, skilfully restrained or understated.
      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:indistinct
      Antonyms: see Thesaurus:distinct
      The difference between the tones is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
      • 2013 August 12, Stephen Bowie, “The Case against Breaking Bad”, in The A.V. Club‎[1], archived from the original on 15 November 2019:
        Although the show gradually grows more subtle, much of the early writing that establishes the characters is so on the nose it hurts. Any time we see Walt [Walter White] in class, it’s certain that what he writes on the chalkboard will echo events in his secret life.
    3. Of an artist, a musician, etc.: having a light touch; sensitive.
    4. Of a person: sensitive to the feelings of others; discreet, tactful.
    5. Of a person, their intellect or mind, etc.: discerning, perceptive, shrewd, wise.
      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wise
      Antonyms: see Thesaurus:foolish
    6. Acting (especially causing harm) in a stealthy, often gradual, manner; insidious.
    7. (archaic) Of a person or their fingers or hands, their ability, etc.: dexterous, skilful.
    8. (archaic) Of a person or animal, or of an action or words: clever or skilful in a crafty or devious way; cunning, sly, wily.
      Synonyms: see Thesaurus:wily
      • a. 1536 (date written), Thomas More, “The Life of John Picus Erle of Myrandula, […]. Twelue Rules of John Picus Earle of Mirandula, Partely Exciting, Partely Directing a Man in Spiritual Bataile. [The .IX. Rule.].”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, page 23:
        If thou thinke thy ſelfe well fenſed and ſure, / Againſt euery ſottle ſuggeſtion of vice, / Conſider fraile glaſſe may no diſtres endure, / And great aduentures oft curſe the dire: […]
      • a. 1548 (date written), Edward Hall, Richard Grafton, “[The Vnquiet Tyme of Kyng Henry the Fourthe.] An Introduccion into the History of Kyng Henry the Fourthe.”, in The Vnion of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre & Yorke, […], London: […] Rychard Grafton, […] [and Steven Mierdman], published 1550, →OCLC, folio i, verso:
        By vnion of the Godhed to the manhod, manne was ioyned to God whiche before by the temptacion of the ſubtle ſerpente, was from hym ſegregate and deuided.
      • a. 1569 (date written), Roger Ascham, “The First Booke for the Youth [Teachyng the Brynging vp of Youth]”, in Margaret Ascham, editor, The Scholemaster: Or Plaine and Perfite Way of Teaching Children, to Vnderstand, Write, and Speake, the Latin Tong, […], London: […] John Daye, […], published 1570, →OCLC, folio 15, verso:
        Yea, rede Terence and Plaut[us] aduiſedlie ouer, and ye ſhall finde in thoſe two wiſe writers, almoſt in euery commedie, no vnthriftie yong man, that is not brought there vnto, by the ſotle inticement of ſom lewd ſeruant.
      • 1583, Iohn Caluin [i.e., John Calvin], “On Wednesday the VIIJ. of May. 1555. The XVJ. Sermon which is the Second vpon the Third Chapter”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The Sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Fifth Booke of Moses Called Deuteronomie: […], London: […] Henry Middleton for Thomas Woodcocke, →OCLC, page 94, column 1:
        He that is ſuttleleſt and fulleſt of ſhiftes, is the handſommeſt man: and ſuch kinde of dealing is eſteemed as a vertue.
      • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 145, column 1:
        A ſubtle Traitor needs no Sophiſter.
      • c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 95, column 1:
        Is not thy kindneſſe ſubtle, couetous, / If not a Vſuring kindneſſe, and as rich men deale Guifts, / Expecting in returne tvventy for one?
      • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 3:1, signature A2, recto, column 2:
        Now the ſerpent was more ſubtill then any beaſt of the field, which the lord God had made, and he ſaid vnto the woman, Yea, hath God ſaid, Ye ſhall not eat of euery tree of the garden?
      • 1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “Sonnet VII”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC, page 49:
        Hovv ſoon hath Time the ſuttle theef of youth, / Stoln on his vving my three and tvventith yeer!
      • 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature [Ee4], verso, lines 180–184:
        [H]e held on / His midnight ſearch, vvhere ſooneſt he might fine / The Serpent: him faſt ſleeping ſoon he found / In Labyrinth of many a round ſelf-rovvld, / His head the midſt, vvell ſtor'd vvith ſuttle vviles: […]
      • 1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 45, lines 322–327:
        VVhy ſhould that / Cauſe thy [Jesus's] refuſal, ſaid the ſubtle Fiend [Satan], / Haſt thou not right to all Created things, / Ovve not all Creatures by juſt right to thee / Duty and Service, nor to ſtay till bid, / But tender all their povver?
      • 1818–1819 (date written), Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Prometheus Unbound”, in Prometheus Unbound […], London: C[harles] and J[ames] Ollier […], published 1820, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 36:
        Geryon, arise! and Gorgon, / Chimæra, and thou Sphinx, subtlest of fiends / Who ministered to Thebes Heaven's poisoned wine, / Unnatural love, and more unnatural hate: / These shall perform your task.
      • 1818 August, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Rosalind and Helen”, in Rosalind and Helen, a Modern Eclogue; with Other Poems, London: […] [C. H. Reynell] for C[harles] and J[ames] Ollier, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 36:
        [T]hrough their ears, / The subtle witchcraft of his tongue / Unlocked the hearts of those who keep / Gold, the world's bond of slavery.
    9. (obsolete) Of ground used for bowling: not smooth; uneven.
    10. (obsolete) Of an object: cleverly contrived or made; also, of a plan, etc.: cleverly contrived or carried out.
Alternative forms
Derived terms
Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Noun

the subtle (uncountable)

  1. People or things that are subtle (adjective sense) as a class.
Translations

Etymology 2

Partly from both of the following:[3]

  • From Middle English sotilen, subtile, subtilien (“to reflect on (something); to become mentally keen; to connive, scheme; to contrive, invent; to become pure or thin; to (cause something to) become light or thin; (medicine) to lighten or reduce (a diet)”),[4] from Anglo-Norman sotiller, soutiller, sutiller, Middle French soutiller, soutillier, and Old French soutillier (“to make thin; to sharpen; to split hairs when arguing; to scheme, plot”), from Old French sotil, soutil, subtil, sutil (noun) (see etymology 1) + -ier (suffix forming infinitives of first-conjugation verbs), partly influenced by Late Latin subtīliāre, the present active infinitive of subtīliō (“to act craftily; to diminish”), from Latin subtīlis (adjective) (see etymology 1) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs).
  • From subtle (adjective).

Verb

subtle (third-person singular simple present subtles, present participle subtling, simple past and past participle subtled) (transitive)

  1. (chiefly US) To make (something) subtle (“giving only a slight impression; also, skilfully restrained or understated”).
  2. (obsolete, rare, uncertain) To burn (someone or something) to ash.
Derived terms
Translations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 “sotil, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 “subtle, adj. and n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2025; “subtle, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  3. ^ “subtle, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2024.
  4. ^ “sotilen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Further reading

Anagrams

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