English

Alternative spellings
subtil (obsolete)
subtile (obsolete)

Etymology
OE. term|sotil|langang, term|subtil|langang, OF. term|soutil|langfro, later term|subtil|langfro, F. term|subtil|langfr, L. term|subtilis|langla; probably, originally, �woven fine�, and from term|sub||under + term|tela||a web, from term|texere||to weave.

Pronunciation
AHD|sŭt'(�)l, IPA|/�s�t(�)l/, SAMPA|/"sVt(@)l/
audio|en-us-subtle.ogg|Audio (US)
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-�t�l|-�t�l

Adjective
en-adj

1. Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

#: The difference is subtle, but you can hear it if you listen carefully.

1. insidious
2. rfd-redundant context|of a thing cleverly contrived
3. rfd-redundant context|of a person skillful
4. rfd-redundant cunning

Translations
rfc-level|Translations at L3+
trans-top|Hard to grasp
Finnish: hienovarainen, hienoinen
French: subtil, délicat
trans-mid
Hebrew: �ק, ע���, ��ק�ק, �ר���, ע���, ���ר, ע���
trans-bottom

trans-top|insidious
Finnish: salakavala
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|(of a thing) cleverly contrived
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|(of a person) skillful
ttbc|French: astucieux
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|cunning
Finnish: ovela
trans-mid
trans-bottom

Translations to be checked
checktrans-top
ttbc|Dutch: subtiel
ttbc|German: subtil
ttbc|Italian: sottile
ttbc|Novial: subtili
trans-mid
ttbc|Polish: subtelny
ttbc|Portuguese: subtil
ttbc|Swedish: subtil
ttbc|Spanish: sutil
ttbc|Irish (Gaelic): Glit
trans-bottom

References
R:Century 1911
R:Webster 1913

fr:subtle
io:subtle
it:subtle
hu:subtle
pt:subtle
ru:subtle
fi:subtle
te:subtle
vi:subtle
zh:subtle

• 2007-12-27 17:23 - Rodasmith - split distinct rfd senses

Full Revision History