A Subtlety
- (uncountable) The quality of being subtle.
- (of things) The quality of being scarcely noticeable or difficult to discern.
- (of things) The quality of being done in a clever way that is not obvious or not direct; the quality of being carefully thought out.
Synonym: refinement
- (of people) The quality of being able to achieve one's aims through clever, delicate or indirect methods. Synonyms: discretion, finesse, savoir-faire
- (of people) The quality of being able to notice or understand things that are not obvious. Synonyms: acumen, perceptiveness, perspicacity
2 . (countable) An instance of being subtle, a subtle thing, especially a subtle argument or distinction.
- (countable, historical) An ornate medieval illusion dish or table decoration, especially when made from one thing but crafted to look like another.
- (uncountable, countable, archaic) The quality of being clever in surreptitious or deceitful behaviour; an act or argument that shows this quality. Synonyms: artifice, craftiness, cunning, deceitfulness, slyness, trickery
- (countable, obsolete) A trick that creates a false appearance. Synonyms: deception, illusion
- (uncountable, obsolete) The property of having a low density or thin consistency.
- (uncountable, obsolete) The property of being able to penetrate materials easily. Synonyms: penetrancy, piercingness