Nearby Words

subtlety

[suht-l-tee] Example Sentences

sub·tle·ty

[suht-l-tee]
noun, plural -ties.
1.
the state or quality of being subtle.
2.
delicacy or nicety of character or meaning.
3.
acuteness or penetration of mind; delicacy of discrimination.
4.
a fine-drawn distinction; refinement of reasoning: the subtleties of logic.
5.
something subtle.
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6.
History/Historical. an elaborate confection, ornate in construction and ornamentation, sometimes edible but more often made and used as a decoration for a table or buffet.
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Origin:
1300–50; Middle English subtelte, sutilte < Old French sutilte < Latin subtīlitāt- (stem of subtīlitās) fineness, equivalent to subtīli(s) subtile + -tāt- -ty2

hy·per·sub·tle·ty, noun
non·sub·tle·ty, noun, plural -ties.
o·ver·sub·tle·ty, noun, plural -ties.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Subtlety is a GRE word you need to know.
So is compendium. Does it mean:
a brief account of an extensive subject; a summary
to catch and hold, attract and fix, to stop and slow down
Example Sentences
  • But subtlety has crept into security in recent years.
  • But pruning your ideas and simplifying your language don't have to eliminate the subtlety and significance of your thought.
  • The man who once did so much to coarsen political debate has developed a nice line in feline subtlety.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
subtlety (ˈsʌtəltɪ)
 
n , pl -ties
1.  the state or quality of being subtle; delicacy
2.  a fine distinction or the ability to make such a distinction
3.  something subtle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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