subtle
名词 n.
动词 v.
形容词 adj.
英 /ˈsʌtl̩/
美 /ˈsʌtəl/|[ˈsʌɾɫ̩]
英文释义
名词 n.
- People or things that are subtle (adjective sense) as a class.
动词 v.
- To make (something) subtle (“giving only a slight impression; also, skilfully restrained or understated”).
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To burn (someone or something) to ash.
— A fire ſubtle ye, are ye ſo crafty.
形容词 adj.
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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.
- Senses relating to tangible things.; Having a delicate or fine substance or texture; hence, exquisite, refined.
- Senses relating to tangible things.; Slender, thin.
- Senses relating to tangible things.; Of a substance: finely powdered; also, of particles of a substance: very fine or small.
- Senses relating to tangible things.; Of weight: after the tare (“weight of an empty container”) has been subtracted; net.
- Senses 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.
- Senses relating to tangible things.; Synonym of subtile (“of a ship: narrow, slender”).
- 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.
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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.
- Senses relating to intangible things.; Of an artist, a musician, etc.: having a light touch; sensitive.
- Senses relating to intangible things.; Of a person: sensitive to the feelings of others; discreet, tactful.
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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.
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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, […]
- Senses relating to intangible things.; Of a person or their fingers or hands, their ability, etc.: dexterous, skilful.
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Senses 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: […]
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Senses 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: […]
- Senses relating to intangible things.; Of an object: cleverly contrived or made; also, of a plan, etc.: cleverly contrived or carried out.
词形变化
词汇关系
上位词
词源
词源 1
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.
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.
词源 2
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).
* 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).
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数据来源: Wiktionary