World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesSubtlety
/ˈsʌb.əl.ti/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
The quality or state of being subtle; delicate distinction or analysis.
"He failed to appreciate the subtlety of her argument." - 2
A fine, delicate, or mysterious feature or quality.
"The painting reveals its hidden subtleties only upon close inspection."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Old French 'sultilite' and Latin 'subtilitatem', meaning fineness or thinness, from 'subtilis' (finely woven, subtle). It entered the English language in the late Middle Ages, initially denoting physical fineness or precision before shifting to mean a delicate distinction or the quality of being elusive and complex.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Subtlety"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Subtlety" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
subtilité
Transliteration: sub.ti.li.te
"Il faut comprendre la subtilité de cette question."
Subtilität
Transliteration: zʊp.ti.liˈtɛːt
"Man muss die Subtilität dieses Arguments erkennen."
sottigliezza
Transliteration: sot.tiˈʎɛt.tsa
"Bisogna cogliere la sottigliezza del discorso."
sutileza
Transliteration: su.tiˈle.θa
"Ella explicó el asunto con gran sutileza."
sutileza
Transliteration: su.tʃiˈle.zɐ
"É preciso captar a sutileza desta obra."
सूक्ष्मता
Transliteration: sukshmatā
"इस बात में एक खास सूक्ष्मता है।"
微妙
Transliteration: wēi miào
"我们需要体会其中的微妙之处。"
미묘함
Transliteration: mimyoham
"그 문장의 미묘함을 이해하기 어렵다."
微妙さ
Transliteration: bimyou-sa
"その言葉には大きな微妙さがある。"
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