different between subtile vs subtil

English

Etymology

From Latin subtilis (“fine, thin, slender, delicate”), perhaps, from sub (“under”) + tela (“a web, fabric”). See tela, toil.

Adjective

subtile (comparative subtiler, superlative subtilest)

1. (obsolete) 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.

   • 1889, Henry James, The Solution.

     I burst into mirth at this—I liked him even better when he was subtile than when he was simple.

Derived terms

• subtile body

Further reading

• subtile in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• subtile in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

French

Adjective

subtile

1. feminine singular of subtil

German

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

subt?le

1. nominative neuter singular of subt?lis
2. accusative neuter singular of subt?lis
3. vocative neuter singular of subt?lis

References

• subtile in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)

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. absolute definite natural masculine form of subtil.

English

Adjective

subtil (comparative more subtil, superlative most subtil)

1. Obsolete form of subtle.; sly, artful, cunning
   • , Genesis 3:1

     Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

   • 1611, King James Version, Wisdom of Solomonn 7:22–23:

     For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good, Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.

References

• Webster, Noah (1828) , “subtil”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language

Anagrams

• builts, bultis

Catalan

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central, Valencian) IPA^(key): /sup?til/

Adjective

subtil (masculine and feminine plural subtils)

1. subtle

Derived terms

• subtilesa
• subtilment

Danish

Etymology

From Latin subt?lis (“fine, thin”), from sub + t?la (“a web”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /subti?l/, [sub??t?i??l]

Adjective

subtil

1. subtle

Inflection

References

• “subtil” in Den Danske Ordbog

French

Etymology

Semi-learned term, modified from the inherited Old French sotil, soutil after the original etymology, Latin subt?lis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /syp.til/

Adjective

subtil (feminine singular subtile, masculine plural subtils, feminine plural subtiles)

1. subtle

Further reading

• “subtil” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin subt?lis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

subtil (comparative subtiler, superlative am subtilsten)

1. subtle

Declension

Related terms

• Subtilität

Further reading

• “subtil” in Duden online

Middle English

Adjective

subtil

1. Alternative form of sotil

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin subtilis

Adjective

subtil (masculine and feminine subtil, neuter subtilt, definite singular and plural subtile)

1. subtle

References

• “subtil” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “subtil” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin subtilis

Adjective

subtil (masculine and feminine subtil, neuter subtilt, definite singular and plural subtile)

1. subtle

References

• “subtil” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Portuguese

Adjective

subtil m or f (plural subtis, comparable) (European orthography)

1. Alternative form of sutil

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French subtil and Latin subt?lis. Doublet of sub?ire.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sub?til/

Adjective

subtil m or n (feminine singular subtil?, masculine plural subtili, feminine and neuter plural subtile)

1. subtle

Declension

Related terms

Swedish

Adjective

subtil (comparative subtilare, superlative subtilast)

1. subtle

Declension

Related terms

• subtilitet