Definition of: subtile

(sut′l, sub′til) adjective
1. Having fine structure; delicately formed; ethereal.
2. Characterized by material rarity; rarefied; refined; hence, penetrating; pervasive.
3. Subtle. [<OF subtil, alter of soutil SUBTLE; refashioned after L]
—sub′tile·ly adverb
—sub′tile·ness noun Synonym: subtle. Subtile and subtle have been constantly used as interchangeable by good writers; but there is a present tendency to distinguish them by making subtile an attribute of things and subtle a characteristic of mind. Subtle, the later form of the word, is used preferably when the derogatory sense of crafty is to be expressed. See ACUTE, ASTUTE, FINE¹.