subtle

adjective (subtle, subtler, subtlest)

«subtle» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

Subtle means very small, delicate or hard to notice. tree →
Subtle means clever in a quiet, sly way, good at thinking of tricks. tree →

In the lessons

a clever animal or hero who tricks others; or a faint hint of a feeling or smell

Examples

The hare was subtle and clever. tree →
There was a subtle smell of smoke. tree →
Her smile was so subtle that I almost missed it. tree →

Note

nothing for maths; a subtle hint does not change any count

In Jewish tradition

In the story of Eden, it describes the serpent as crafty and sly. In Samuel and Psalms it is said of Jonadab, a very clever and scheming man, and of God, who deals with the crooked in a way that outwits them.

Interpretation. The rabbis noted a wordplay in Hebrew: the serpent is "arum" (clever) and the man and woman were "arumim" (naked). They saw the serpent's cleverness as a source of temptation. The saying that God shows Himself subtle to the crooked is read as meaning that He answers each person according to his ways.

Examples

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. (Torah GEN.3.1, JPS 1917) tree →
With the pure Thou dost show myself pure; and with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself subtle. (Prophets 2SA.22.27, JPS 1917) tree →
With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; and with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself subtle. (Writings PSA.18.27, JPS 1917) tree →
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. (Prophets 2SA.13.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

nothing for maths; a subtle hint does not change any count

Early Modern English

Meaning

Clever in a sly, tricky way, able to fool others without them noticing. tree →

Then and now

Today "subtle" means small, delicate or hard to notice. The first sentence uses the old sense of sly cleverness; the second and third use today's sense.

Examples

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. (Torah GEN.3.1, JPS 1917) tree →
The subtle characterisation of the various occupations reaches a high level of artistic merit. (More English Fairy Tales) tree →
Was it not rather that he should not henceforth see Burd Janet?--a subtle touch of jealousy. (More English Fairy Tales) tree →

Note

Today: crafty.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «subtle» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«subtle» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «subtle» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«subtle» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «subtle» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«subtle» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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