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Added 9 October 2026

subtle

/ˈsʌtl̩/ adjective

In Latin: subtīlis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about subtle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze.
his whole attitude had undergone a subtle change
Able to make fine distinctions.
a subtle mind
Working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way.
glaucoma is an insidious disease

Origin

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, u.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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