subtlety

noun, plural sub·tle·ties.

the state or quality of being subtle.

delicacy or nicety of character or meaning.

acuteness or penetration of mind; delicacy of discrimination.

a fine-drawn distinction; refinement of reasoning: the subtleties of logic.

something subtle.

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.

Relevant Questions

What Are Myriad Subtleti...

What Are Subtleties?

What Are Myriad Subtleti...

What Are Subtleties?

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English subtelte, sutilte < Old French sutilte < Latin subtīlitāt- (stem of subtīlitās) fineness, equivalent to subtīli(s) subtile + -tāt- -ty²

Related forms

hy·per·sub·tle·ty, noun

non·sub·tle·ty, noun, plural non·sub·tle·ties.

o·ver·sub·tle·ty, noun, plural o·ver·sub·tle·ties.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To subtlety

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Subtlety is a GRE word you need to know.

So is guile. Does it mean:

insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.

a regional form of a language, esp. of French, differing from the standard, literary form of the language.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

subtlety (ˈsʌt^əltɪ)

—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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Example sentences

The investigators blinked at the subtlety of this distinction, and made the

necessary changes to the transcript.

These changes are all the more startling for their subtlety, adding a new

dimension to the audio commentaries.

That's one, twenty-three in case the subtlety didn't take.

For the subtlety and quickness of his understanding, and his penetrating

genius, he was regarded as a prodigy.

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Matching Quote

"In spite of the fact that religion looks backward to revealed truth while science looks forward to new vistas and discoveries, both activities produce a sense of awe and a curious mixture of humility and arrogance in their practitioners. All great scientists are inspired by the subtlety and beauty of the natural world that they are seeking to understand. Each new subatomic particle, every unexpected object, produces delight and wonderment. In constructing their theories, physicists are frequently guided by arcane concepts of elegance in the belief that the universe is intrinsically beautiful."

-Paul Davies