subtle
AdjektivSubstantivVerbhäufig in Dialogen
- Vereinigtes Königreich//ˈsʌtl̩//
- Vereinigte Staaten//ˈsʌtəl//
- Vereinigte Staaten/[ˈsʌɾɫ̩]/
Senses relating to tangible things. Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.
Adjektiv
- 1
Senses relating to tangible things. Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.
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
altertümlichSenses relating to tangible things. Having a delicate or fine substance or texture; hence, exquisite, refined.
- 3
altertümlichSenses relating to tangible things. Slender, thin.
- 4
altertümlichSenses relating to tangible things. Of a substance: finely powdered; also, of particles of a substance: very fine or small.
- 5
altertümlichSenses relating to tangible things. Of weight: after the tare (“weight of an empty container”) has been subtracted; net.
- 6
historischSenses relating to tangible things. 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
veraltetSenses relating to tangible things. Synonym of subtile (“of a ship: narrow, slender”).
- 8
Senses relating to intangible things. 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.
- 9
Senses relating to intangible things. Giving only a slight impression; elusive, indistinct; also, skilfully restrained or understated.
The difference between the tones is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
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.
- 10
Senses relating to intangible things. Of an artist, a musician, etc.: having a light touch; sensitive.
- 11
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person: sensitive to the feelings of others; discreet, tactful.
- 12
Senses relating to intangible things. Of a person, their intellect or mind, etc.: discerning, perceptive, shrewd, wise.
[T]his heauenly foode is giuen for the ſatisfying of our emptie ſoules, and not for the exerciſing of our curious and ſubtle vvits.
Lords and Commons of England, conſider vvhat Nation it is vvherof ye are, and vvherof ye are the governours: a Nation not ſlovv and dull, but of a quick, ingenious, and piercing ſpirit, acute to invent, ſuttle and ſinevvy to diſcours, not beneath the reach of any point the higheſt that human capacity can ſoar to.
VVhen ſubtle VVits have ſpun their thred too fine, / Tis vveak and fragile like Arachnes line: […]
[Tomaso] Malvenda, a Spaniſh divine, vvho took the conduct of the debate on the part of the Catholics, managed it vvith all the ſubtle dexterity of a ſcholaſtic metaphyſician, more ſtudious to perplex his adverſaries than to convince them, and more intent on palliating error than on diſcovering truth.
- 13
Senses relating to intangible things. Acting (especially causing harm) in a stealthy, often gradual, manner; insidious.
And if King Edward be as true and iuſt, / As I am Subtle, Falſe, and Treacherous, […]
As for thee, false friend, subtle fox, unfaithful servant, this long time am I grown weary of thee slinking up and down my palace devising darkly things I know not: thou, that art nought akin to Witchland, but an outlander, a Goblin exile, a serpent warmed in my bosom to my hurt.
- 14
altertümlichSenses relating to intangible things. Of a person or their fingers or hands, their ability, etc.: dexterous, skilful.
- 15
altertümlichSenses relating to intangible things. Of a person or animal, or of an action or words: clever or skilful in a crafty or devious way; cunning, sly, wily.
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: […]
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.
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.
He that is ſuttleleſt and fulleſt of ſhiftes, is the handſommeſt man: and ſuch kinde of dealing is eſteemed as a vertue.
- 16
veraltetSenses relating to intangible things. Of ground used for bowling: not smooth; uneven.
Like to a Bovvle vpon a ſubtle ground / I haue tumbled paſt the throvv: […]
[V]pon Tityus his breſt, that (for ſixe of the nine acres) is counted the ſubtleſt bovvling-ground in all Tartary.
- 17
veraltetSenses relating to intangible things. Of an object: cleverly contrived or made; also, of a plan, etc.: cleverly contrived or carried out.
Herkunft
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.”), 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”) (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. The noun is derived from Middle English sotil, soubtil, subtil (“wise person; sophisticated people collectively”), from the adjective.
Substantiv
- 1
People or things that are subtle (adjective sense) as a class.
Verb
- 1
To make (something) subtle (“giving only a slight impression; also, skilfully restrained or understated”).
- 2
veraltetTo burn (someone or something) to ash.
A fire ſubtle ye, are ye ſo crafty.
Herkunft
Partly from both of the following: * 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)”), 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).
Formen
- Komparativ
- subtler, more subtle
- Superlativ
- subtlest, most subtle
- Präteritum
- subtled
- Partizip II
- subtled
- Partizip I
- subtling
- 3. Person Singular
- subtles
subtle · Senses relating to tangible things. Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous,…
suburban · Relating to or characteristic of or situated on the outskirts…suburbs · The populated area surrounding a city.subversive · Intending to subvert, overturn, undermine or debase.