Home UK English subtility

Meaning of subtility in English:

subtility

noun

  • 1Cunning, craftiness; = "subtlety".

    Now chiefly in reference to the devil.

  • 2Skill; ingenuity; = "subtlety".

  • 3Refinement in argument or speculation; (excessive) use of fine distinctions.

  • 4An instance of this; a fine point; a nicety; = "subtlety". Usually in plural.

  • 5 historical Thinness, tenuity, penetrativeness; = "subtlety".

  • 6Delicacy, fineness.

Pronunciation

subtility

/səˈtɪlɪti/ /sʌbˈtɪlɪti/

Usage

Now somewhat archaic in most senses. Chiefly superseded by subtlety

Origin

Late Middle English; earliest use found in John Gower (d. 1408), poet. Probably partly (i) from Anglo-Norman and Middle French subtilité, Middle French subtillité, variants of Anglo-Norman sotilité, sutilité, sutilitie, Old French soutillité, sutillité, Old French, Middle French soutilité subtlety;.