Part 933

Milman.

Sub*til"i*ty (?), n. [L. subtilitas: cf. F. subtilité. See Subtle.] Subtilty. [R.]

Sub`til*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. subtilization.] 1. The act of making subtile.

2. (Old Chem.) The operation of making so volatile as to rise in steam or vapor.

3. Refinement; subtlety; extreme attenuation.

Sub"til*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Subtilized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Subtilizing (?).] [L. subtiliser.] 1. To make thin or fine; to make less gross or coarse.

2. To refine; to spin into niceties; as, to subtilize arguments.

Nor as yet have we subtilized ourselves into savages.

Burke.

Sub"til*ize, v. i. To refine in argument; to make very nice distinctions. Milner.

Sub"til*i`zer (?), n. One who subtilizes.

Sub"til*ty (?), n. [Contr. fr. subtility.] 1. The quality or state of being subtile; thinness; fineness; as, the subtility of air or light.

2. Refinement; extreme acuteness; subtlety.

Intelligible discourses are spoiled by too much subtility in nice divisions.

Locke.

3. Cunning; skill; craft. [Obs.]

To learn a lewd man this subtility.

Chaucer.

4. Slyness in design; artifice; guile; a cunning design or artifice; a trick; subtlety.

O full of all subtility and all mischief.

Acts xiii. 10.

In senses 2, 3, and 4 the word is more commonly written subtlety.

Sub"tle (?), a. [Compar. Subtler (?); superl. Subtlest (?).] [OE. sotil, subtil, OF. soutil, later subtil, F. subtil, L. subtilis; probably, originally, woven fine, and fr. sub under + tela a web, fr. texere to weave. See Text, and cf. Subtile.] 1. Sly in design; artful; cunning; insinuating; subtile; -- applied to persons; as, a subtle foe. "A subtle traitor." Shak.

2. Cunningly devised; crafty; treacherous; as, a subtle stratagem.

3. Characterized by refinement and niceness in drawing distinctions; nicely discriminating; -- said of persons; as, a subtle logician; refined; tenuous; sinuous; insinuating; hence, penetrative or pervasive; -- said of the mind; its faculties, or its operations; as, a subtle intellect; a subtle imagination; a subtle process of thought; also, difficult of apprehension; elusive.

Things remote from use, obscure and subtle.

Milton.

4. Smooth and deceptive. [Obs.]