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Webster 1913 Edition

Subtilty

Sub′til-ty

,
Noun.
[Contr. fr.
subtility
.]
1.
The quality or state of being subtile; thinness; fineness;
as, the
subtility
of air or light
.
2.
Refinement; extreme acuteness; subtlety.
Intelligible discourses are spoiled by too much
subtility
in nice divisions.
Locke.
3.
Cunning; skill; craft.
[Obs.]
To learn a lewd man this
subtility
.
Chaucer.
4.
Slyness in design; artifice; guile; a cunning design or artifice; a trick; subtlety.
O full of all
subtility
and all mischief.
Acts xiii. 10.
☞ In senses 2, 3, and 4 the word is more commonly written subtlety.

Webster 1828 Edition

Subtilty

SUB'TILTY

,
Noun.
[L. subtilitas.]
1.
Thinness; fineness; exility; in a physical sense; as the subtilty of air or light; the subtilty of sounds.
2.
Refinement; extreme acuteness.
Intelligible discourses are spoiled by too much subtilty in nice divisions.
3.
Slyness in design; cunning; artifice; usually but less properly written subtlety.

Definition 2024

subtilty

subtilty

English

Noun

subtilty ‎(countable and uncountable, plural subtilties)

  1. (archaic) Subtlety
    • Arthur Wilson, History of James I
      The man, being skilful in natural magick, did use all the artifices his subtilty could devise to imbecilitate the earl.
    • Sir Walter Raleigh
      Oh, by what plots, by what forswearings, betrayings, oppressions, imprisonments, tortures, poisonings, and under what reasons of state and politic subtilty, have these forenamed kings […] pulled the vengeance of God upon themselves […]

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