subtlety

UK /ˈsʌt(ə)lti/ US /ˈsʌt(ə)lti/
noun 5

Definitions

noun

1

The quality of being subtle.

the subtlety of the Mona Lisa’s smile

[H]e had a lifetime of skill in interpreting his father's gestures: those bent knees meant that something of great subtlety was about to be revealed.

2

The quality of being subtle.

the subtlety of a writer’s analysis / of a singer’s phrasing

Something kinda sad about / The way that things have come to be / Desensitized to everything / What became of subtlety? / How can this mean anything to me / If I really don't feel anything at all?

3

The quality of being subtle.

With all his usual subtlety, he quietly fixed the problem before anyone else noticed it.

European women often boss their men too, but with a beguiling subtlety unknown to most American females.

4

The quality of being subtle.

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

his subtilty in thinking and reasoning were profound,

5

An instance of being subtle, a subtle thing, especially a subtle argument or distinction.

The subtleties of this overture are often overlooked.

1561, William Whittingham et al. (translators), Geneva Bible, Wisdom of Solomon 8.8, [S]he [Wisdom] knoweth the subtilties of wordes, and the solutions of darke sentences:

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