subtly

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Related to subtly: thesaurus, Gile, imminently

sub·tle

(sŭt′l)

adj. sub·tler, sub·tlest

a. So slight as to be difficult to detect or describe; elusive: a subtle smile.

b. Difficult to understand; abstruse: an argument whose subtle point was lost on her opponent.

2. Able to make fine distinctions: a subtle mind.

3. Operating in a hidden, usually injurious way; insidious: a subtle poison.

4. Archaic

a. Characterized by skill or ingenuity; clever.

b. Crafty or sly; devious.

[Middle English sotil, from Old French, from Latin subtīlis; see teks- in Indo-European roots.]

sub′tle·ness n.

sub′tly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Adv.

subtly - in a subtle manner; "late nineteenth-century French opera at its most beautiful, subtly romantic with a twilight melancholy"

Translations

بِدِقَّه، بِذكاء، بِمَهارَه

slabounce

fein

subtilement

elmésen

glögglega; fínlega

hårfint

slabučko

kurnazca

精明地

subtly

[ˈsʌtlɪ] ADV

1. (= delicately) [imply, remind, suggest] → sutilmente, de manera sutil
subtly flavoured dishes → platos ligeramente sazonados
subtly coloured garments → prendas de colores tenues
subtly erotic images → imágenes de un sutil erotismo

2. (= slightly) [change] → ligeramente, levemente; [enhance] → sutilmente, de manera sutil
subtly different → ligeramente distinto

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

subtly

[ˈsʌtli] adv

(= slightly) [different] → subtilement; [change, alter] → subtilement

(= cleverly) → subtilement

(= delicately) [flavoured, coloured] → subtilement

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

subtly

adv → fein; flavoured also → delikat; argue, reply → scharfsinnig, subtil (geh); analyse, think → scharfsinnig; (= slightly) change → geringfügig; (= indirectly) imply → unterschwellig, indirekt; achieve one’s ends → auf raffinierte Weise; subtly different → auf subtile Weise verschieden or unterschiedlich; he subtly suggested → er schlug geschickt vor; it’s just very subtly wrong → es ist schwer zu fassen, was falsch daran ist

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

subtly

[ˈsʌtlɪ] adv (see adj) → sottilmente, delicatamente

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

subtle

(ˈsatl) adjective

1. faint or delicate in quality, and therefore difficult to describe or explain. There is a subtle difference between `unnecessary' and `not necessary'; a subtle flavour.

2. clever or cunning. He has a subtle mind.

subtlety (ˈsatlti) noun

ˈsubtly adverb

References in classic literature ?

Gifted with the high perception, I lack the low, enjoying power; damned, most subtly and most malignantly!

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Subtly connecting the arts, they were at once painters and poets, musicians and singers.

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It was subtly flattering to know that with the whole school to think about Mr.

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The firelight shadows were dancing over the kitchen walls at Green Gables, for the spring evening was chilly; through the open east window drifted in the subtly sweet voices of the night.

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Has Clara wandered away out of hearing of the music that she loves--the music that harmonizes so subtly with the tender beauty of the night?

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Then, as subtly, and coldly, and remorselessly as a sea-fog stealing landward, fear crept into her heart.

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As he said this, Stepan Arkadyevitch smiled subtly. Levin, too, could not help smiling.

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Then with a teasing "turn about's fair play," he, too, took a frank look, oddly stirred by the sophisticated touches which added so subtly to her natural beauty.

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Come Death, so subtly veiled that I Thy coming know not, how or when, Lest it should give me life again To find how sweet it is to die.

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Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground.

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"What I can't understand," I insisted subtly, "is how on earth, with this wind, she has managed to be just where she was when we first made her out.

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"In that case he is inviting his doom by awaiting our attack," said Langeron, with a subtly ironical smile, again glancing round for support to Miloradovich who was near him.