| 释义 |
subtly, adv.|ˈsʌtlɪ|
Forms: α. 4–5 sotel(l)y, -illy, -ylly, sutely, 4–6 suttelly, 5–6 suttely, (4 sotelliche, -elych, -il(l)iche, -ylleche, suteli, -elly, -il(l)i, -illy, 5 sotelyche, -yly, Sc. sutailly, -ellye, suttilly, 6 sottelye, sut(t)ellie, suttully), 6–7 suttly. β. 6 subtel(l)y, 6–7 (9) subtlely, 6– subtly.
[f. subtle a. + -ly2. Cf. subtilly.]
1. Cleverly, dexterously, skilfully; ingeniously, artfully, cunningly. arch.
αc1350Will. Palerne 3117 We be so sotiliche be-sewed in þise hides. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 425 It was i-made sotilliche by gravynge craft. c1400Destr. Troy 3038 Hir ene..Full sutelly set, Serklyt with heris On the browes so bryght. c1440Gesta Rom. xliii. 170 (Harl. MS.) To have a sherte sotelyche I-made for his body. c1550Rolland Crt. Venus i. 140 Tabletis of gold,..With Saphiris set so suttellie and sound. 1667Milton P.L. viii. 207 Thou seest How suttly to detaine thee I devise.
β1687Settle Refl. Dryden 65 Subtly contrived too. 1859FitzGerald Omar lxi, That He who subtly wrought me into Shape Should stamp me back to common Earth again.
2. With subtle thought or argument; with nice or fine-drawn distinctions.
c1315Shoreham vii. 203 Hare oȝe wyt, hyt hym by-kecheþ, Þat god so sotylleche secheþ, Þat syt so heȝe. a1513Fabyan Chron. vii. ccxlv. (1811) 288 It is ouer subtely excused, or soo darkely..wryten, that the reder therof shall hardely come to y⊇ knowlege of the trouthe. 1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. xiii. (1634) 54 In too subtlely pearcing into the high misterie. 1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. ii. (1641) 18/1, I know how subtly greatest Clerks Presume to argue in their learned Works. 1749Hartley Observ. Man i. iv. Concl. 512 Matter and Motion, however subtly divided, or reasoned upon, yield nothing more than Matter and Motion still. 1829Lytton Devereux ii. viii, Let us not talk of these Matters so subtly. 1884Punch 23 Feb. 87 The subtly-woven length Of his audacious argument.
†3. With craft or guile; craftily, treacherously, deceitfully, insidiously. Obs.
αc1325Poem Times Edw. II, lxiv. (Percy Soc.) 29 Sotelych for-sothe Thei don the kyngs hest; Whan ech man hath his parte The kyngs hath the lest. 1340Ayenb. 26 Þo byeþ ypocrites sotyls, þet sotilliche wylleþ heȝe cliue. 141426 Pol. Poems xiii. 63 Mede wiþ poyson sotyly is maynt. a1508Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 254, I wes dissymblit suttelly in a sanctis liknes. 1535Coverdale Acts vii. 19 The same dealte suttely with oure kynred. 1600Holland Livy xxxv. xiv. 896 How suttelly and cautelously he had like a cunning Carthaginian, couched his words in a certeine kind of flatterie. 1641Milton Ch. Govt. i. v. 15 Suttly to cast a jealousie upon the Crowne.
βa1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 220 b, Utteryng wonderous woordes, as she was before subtelly and craftely induced and taught. c1585[R. Browne] Answ. Cartwright 24 Why did M. C. so subtlely set contrary to dumbe ministers, sufficient ministers? 1658T. Wall Charact. Enemies Ch. 62 Let them subtlely insinuate necessary defence, sure enough the preparations they make shew a delight in war. 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. iv. (1840) 95 The Devil takes this for a handle, and subtly makes Canaan dream.
4. Delicately, finely.
1732Pope Ess. Man. i. 219 In the nice bee, what sense so subtly true, From pois'nous herbs extracts the healing dew? 1849Ruskin Sev. Lamps v. §12. 147 The Pisan front is far more subtly proportioned. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. lxvi, This subtly-poised physical susceptibility.
5. In a manner that defies observation, analysis, or explanation.
1854Milman Lat. Chr. iv. i. II. 9 [Mohammedanism] dealt prodigally in angelic appearances, and believed in another incorporeal, or, rather, subtly-corporeal race, between angels and men. 1874Green Short Hist. iv. §1. 157 The song passes swiftly and subtly into a world of romantic sentiment. 1879Farrar St. Paul I. 157 Apology and demonstration are subtly blended throughout his appeal. 1890Scribner's Mag. Jan. 191 A very strong impression of French superiority was very subtly instilled. 1912Times 19 Oct. 5/2 A religious intolerance as subtly vicious as was ever the fanatical impetus of the Crescent. |