subtile

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English

Etymology

From Latin subtilis (fine, thin, slender, delicate).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsʌt.əl/, /ˈsʌb.tɪl/, /ˈsʌb.təl/

Adjective

subtile (comparative subtiler, superlative subtilest)

  1. Obsolete form of subtle.
    • 1819, Francis Bacon, The Works of Francis Bacon, volume 2, page 2:
      And sometimes this perception, in some kind of bodies, is far more subtile than the sense; so that the sense is but a dull thing in comparison of it: we see a weather-glass will find the least difference of the weather, in heat, or cold, when men find it not.
    • 1888, Henry James, chapter 2, in The Solution:
      I burst into mirth at this—I liked him even better when he was subtile than when he was simple.

Derived terms

Further reading

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /syp.til/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

subtile

  1. feminine singular of subtil

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

subtile

  1. inflection of subtil:
    1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
    2. strong nominative/accusative plural
    3. weak nominative all-gender singular
    4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Latin

Adjective

subtīle

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular of subtīlis

References

Middle English

Adjective

subtile

  1. Alternative form of sotil

Noun

subtile

  1. Alternative form of sotil

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

subtile

  1. definite singular/plural of subtil

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

subtile

  1. definite singular/plural of subtil

Swedish

Adjective

subtile

  1. definite natural masculine singular of subtil