Subtle
/ˈsʌtəl/noun
Delicately intricate or precise; not immediately obvious.
Did you know?The word 'subtle' comes from a root meaning 'to weave,' evoking a sense of intricate connections hidden beneath the surface, much like the web of fate.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swep-
“to weave or spin, suggesting intricacy.”
Latin
Latin
subtilis
“finely woven, delicate, or intricate.”
Old French
Old French
subtil
“clever, cunning, or fine.”
Middle English
Middle English
subtil
“delicate, refined, or intricate.”
Modern English
English
subtle
“characterized by a fine or delicate quality.”
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