subtilty

subtilty

English

Noun

subtilty (countable and uncountable, plural subtilties)

1. (archaic) Subtlety; slyness in design; cunning; artifice
   • 1611, King James Version, 2 Kings 10:19:

     Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

   • 1614, Sir Walter Raleigh, History of the World, Prefacce:

     Oh, by what plots, by what forswearings, betrayings, oppressions, imprisonments, tortures, poisonings, and under what reasons of state and politic subtilty, have these forenamed kings […] pulled the vengeance of God upon themselves, and upon their prudent ministers!

2. (archaic) skill or discernment; acuteness
   • 1611, King James Version, Proverbs 1:4:

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

   • 1653, Arthur Wilson, The History of Great Britain, being the Life and Reign of King James I', Volume II:'

     The man, being skilful in natural magick, did use all the artifices his subtilty could devise to imbecilitate the earl.

3. (archaic) Nuance; hidden meaning
   • 1610–11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act I, sc. 1:

     You do yet taste

     Some subtilties o' the isle, that will not let you 2160

     Believe things certain.

   • 1611, King James Version, Wisdom of Solomon 8:8:

     If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.