subtlety
/ˈsʌt(ə)lti/ noun C1- The quality of being scarcely noticeable or difficult to discern. (of things) · the subtlety of the Mona Lisa’s smile
- The quality of being done in a clever way that is not obvious or not direct; the quality of being carefully thought out. (of things) · the subtlety of a writer’s analysis / of a singer’s phrasing
- The quality of being able to achieve one's aims through clever, delicate or indirect methods. (of people) · With all his usual subtlety, he quietly fixed the problem before anyone else noticed it.
- The quality of being able to notice or understand things that are not obvious. (of people)
- An instance of being subtle, a subtle thing, especially a subtle argument or distinction. · The subtleties of this overture are often overlooked.
- An ornate medieval illusion dish or table decoration, especially when made from one thing but crafted to look like another. · At the king's coronation feast, several subtleties were served between main courses.
Plural subtleties
From the library
“Well, he told me that Benedetto, who is considered a serpent of subtlety and a giant of cunning, is really but a very commonplace, silly rascal, and altogether unworthy of the experiments that will be made on his phrenological organs after his death.”
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