释义 |
subtilelyadv.Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: subtile adj., -ly suffix2. Etymology: < subtile adj. + -ly suffix2. Compare earlier subtly adv. and the foreign-language forms cited at that entry. N.E.D. (1915) also gives the pronunciation (sɒ·tili) /ˈsʌtɪlɪ/; see further the discussion at subtile adj. Now rare (chiefly superseded by subtly adv.). the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adverb] the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] > with skill or art > ingeniously α. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 576 Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this. c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 69 This fable..may ful souereynly touche som pointis of astronomye to þo þat subtilly can vndirstande it. c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius (Linc. Cathedral 103) 2 (MED) Diuerse men..wondir subtillye..In metir sum and sum in prose pleyne, This book translated haue. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 123 Gude Iames the ferd..said full subtillie: ‘Do weill and sett not by demyng.’ 1676 T. Shadwell i. 10 Mites in a Cheese, and the Blue of Plums, which he has subtilly found out to be living Creatures. β. 1623 P. Gosselin tr. A. Rivet 13 Now here is a passage of Esay most subtilely interpreted.1654 H. Hammond xvi. 189 The antient Philosophers have written more subtilely in this matter.1839 Ld. Brougham 2nd Ser. 78 After stating an opinion subtilely and sophistically held by some, adds, ‘Tu noli sic sapere’.the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adverb] > with skill or art > ingeniously α. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 499 The sepulcre of hym Daryus Which that Appellus wroghte subtilly [c1415 Lansd. soubtely]. 1484 W. Caxton tr. iii. i. f. liijj The sheepherd..with a nydle subtylly drewe oute of his foote the thorne. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil viii. x. 70 The speyr, and eyk the scheild so subtylly Forgit. ?1541 R. Copland ii. sig. Liijv Whan they be drye sewe them subtylly, and the lyppes wyl reioyne togydre. 1590 E. Spenser ii. ix. sig. Xv They of liuing fire most subtilly, Were made, and set in siluer sockets bright. 1631 R. Brathwait i. 7 His shelves..are subtilly inter-woven with Spiders Caules. 1750 tr. C. Leonardus 44 They fill the hole with a tincture, or bind it with a ring, or more subtilly, when they work up the leaves of the balasius into the form of diamonds. 1808 R. Southey xi. 336 They raised his arm, and fastened it up so subtilly that it was a marvel to see how upright he held the sword. β. 1835 W. Irving No. 3. 50 The walls were built of..various colored marbles, not larger than a man's hand; so subtilely joined, however, that but for their different hues they might be taken for one entire stone.1917 P. A. Means tr. P. Sancho i. 5 They brought a fountain all of gold and very subtilely worked.the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adverb] α. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 237 This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly In othere wynes growynge faste by. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 759 And subtilly this lettre doun she threste Vnder his pilwe. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 140 Withjn a moneth efter he..brekis his company subtily yat the king wate nocht na the Constable. 1517 S. Hawes (1928) xi. 41 Pryuely The morall cense, they cloke full subtyly In prayse or dysprayse. 1599 W. Shakespeare iv. iii. 24 A poyson which the Frier Subtilly hath ministred to haue me dead. View more context for this quotation 1611 Psalms cv. 25 To deale subtilly with his seruants. View more context for this quotation 1625 F. Bacon (new ed.) 50 Enuy worketh subtilly, and in the darke. 1660 R. Coke Elements Power & Subjection 207 in Divers persons having provisions of the Pope..have..subtilly excluded divers persons of their benefices. a1720 W. Dunlop (1722) II. 135 The Devil, tho' more subtilly, yet no less powerfully, tyrannizes over all such as are not born of the Spirit. 1794 G. Adams II. xiv. 107 This mischief diffuses itself still more subtilly in philosophy. 1881 R. H. Horne i. iii. 21 To diffuse rare fancies through the brain Where wine and incense, subtilly devised, Hath bred voluptuous delirium. 1924 28 Mar. 287/1 A solid scientific front for protecting man from the infinitely varied and subtilly and ceaselessly destroying hosts by which he is beset. β. 1567 W. Painter II. xxii. f. 162v She..began subtilely to dissemble and faine to take pleasure in that which was to hir more bitter than any Aloes.1578 J. Rogers (new ed.) sig. C.iiij The Authour hath so cunningly and subtilely dealt, not expressing his minde in plaine tearmes and speeche.1611 J. Speed ix. xv. 658/1 Hee afterward most subtilely conuerted the reuenge (by way of taking amends) to the enlargement of his proper riches, power and amplitude.1659 T. Burton (1828) IV. 261 It was so subtilely and dangerously laid, that it was impossible to prevent it, if divers of them had not been committed.1716 tr. T.-S. Gueullette 146 Cheref-Eldin had given to Geoncha the ring he had so subtilely acquired.1794 J. Charnock I. 137 Having, by feigning an inferiority and retreat, insensibly and subtilely drawn Tromp to such a distance from the other divisions of his fleet.1837 T. Carlyle II. iii. ii. 155 Our glorious Revolution is subtilely, by black traitors..perverted to do it.the world > matter > constitution of matter > lack of density > [adverb] α. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 180 Be þai [sc. ingredients] alle wele subtily puluerized and with rayne water be þai molled, i. wette [?c1425 Paris soften ham; L. molliantur] vpon a tilestone. c1425 tr. J. Arderne (Sloane 6) (1910) 86 (MED) Ich on of þise bi þamself be ful subtily grouden [read grounden] on a stone. 1565 J. Hall tr. Lanfranc v. v. 45 Make these in powder moste subtillye, and put therof a litle in the angle of the eye, with a fether. 1613 S. Purchas 369 The aire was full of formes..which subtilly and as it were by euaporation, infuse themselues into the eies. 1646 Sir T. Browne ii. v. 84 A dram thereof [sc. glass], subtilly powdered in butter. View more context for this quotation 1711 J. Greenwood 297 If the Breath go more subtilly or thinly out of the Mouth. 1799 tr. (ed. 6) I. ii. 107 Subtilly pulverised Venice glass. 1811 J. Pinkerton II. 423 This iron being unoxygenated, subtilly divided, and dispersed through the whole mass. 1855 tr. C. E. Gruner 182 In the fusing mass by degrees and in little portions a fourth part of subtilly powdered rock-crystal is put. β. 1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau vi. ii. f. 28/3 If..the blood issue out of the same to subtilelye, soe that we feare that we shall not drawe sufficient blood enough therout.1644 K. Digby i. x. 77 They [sc. sunbeams] do but pierce and diuide it [sc. earthly matter] very subtilely, and cutt some of the outward partes of it into extreme litle atomes.1758 (Royal Soc.) 50 164 Whilst the gold continues subtilely divided.1794 R. J. Sulivan I. 428 Provided its particles be so subtilely divided and suspended [etc.].1823 J. Badcock 152 The vapour from the ley..will penetrate the goods, and operate so subtilely as to disengage the carbonic resin.1893 9 Feb. 105/2 The wet can be subtilely dispersed in the guise of dew.the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > acuteness of physical senses > [adverb] c1450 tr. G. Deguileville (Cambr.) (1869) 42 This heeringe knoweth more subtylliche and apperceyueth more cleerliche. the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adverb] > with delicacy the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [adverb] α. a1513 R. Fabyan (1516) I. ccxlv. f. clxvii It is ouersubtely excused, or soo darkely or mystly wryten, that the Reder therof shall hardely come to ye knowlege of the trouthe. ?1548 A. Gilby f. lxxv The subtyle philosophers..did subtilly dispute agaynste the resurrection. 1589 G. Gifford ii. f. 34 Aristotle could dispute subtillie, let him now shew his cunning to acquitte himselfe. 1678 R. Cudworth i. iv. 586 Sometimes again, this Philosopher subtilly distinguisheth, betwixt νόησις αὐτή..and τὸ νοοῦν or τὸ ἔχον τὴν νόησιν. a1694 J. Tillotson Serm. in (1714) 65 Others have sought to ease themselves of all the evil of affliction by disputing subtilly against it. 1725 T. Woolston 61 The Author of the Discourse..very subtilly argues from Reason and Authority. 1773 42 App. 642/2 I will not presume to ask who or what this church of England is, which Philo Ecclesiæ & Veritatis so subtilly distinguishes from her members. 1853 W. Whewell tr. H. Grotius II. 295 These matters might be divided more subtilly. 1860 S. Wilberforce 69 That vast and subtilly contrived system of external formalism. β. ?1548 A. Gilby f. lxiiv Of the whiche Sophisme, doctoure Duns, doctoure Dorbell and doctoure Thomas de Aquino, do dispute verie subtilely.1646 A. Burgess iv. 37 We may make a great difference between holinesse as a way or meanes, and as a cause or merit of salvation; yet practically the heart doth not use to distinguish so subtilely.1686 R. Blome i. 26/2 Some Distinguish very subtilely (but I know not how well) That it may, as to its use, but not as to its Substance.1730 J. Colbatch (ed. 6) ii. 62 Scaliger, in his way, has treated it very subtilely, but I think advances nothing but Paradoxes.1785 T. Reid ii. viii. 127 Philosophy was become an art of speaking learnedly, and disputing subtilely, without producing any invention of use in human life.1825 June 654 Lisida..remonstrates long, subtilely, and magnificently against the injustice and barbarity of killing a man.1855 Jan. 35 In his volume on the ‘Old Testament’, the doctrine of the fall of man is ingeniously and subtilely put to rest.1919 Apr. 384 The great Greeks theorized about the way they treated their architectural forms—theorized so subtilely that we can't follow them.the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adverb] 1605 Z. Jones tr. P. le Loyer iii. f. 28v If their Atomes doe enter into the minde, it must needs be then by that meanes, that they bee Inuisible: and that they doe flie vp and downe verie closely, and subtilly [Fr. subtilement]. 1664 J. Bulteel tr. G. F. Loredano xi. 60 Love is begotten by some certain invisible spirits, which subtilly are transmitted from the beloved Eyes, into the Lovers heart. 1794 (ed. 2) 378 Knowledge of heavenly things..cannot sustain, but subtilly puffs up the mind. 1839 C. B. Pearson 136 If we look into our own hearts, we shall find that self is enthroned there so deeply, and yet so subtilely, that it is very difficult to detect it where it is. 1872 July 542 Shakespeare intended subtilely to convey the fact that Katherine's gradual subjection to Petruchio's domination arose out of a growing preference which he was able to inspire in her. 1921 Nov. 595/1 He watched her covertly as she stepped along at his side, so like yet so subtilely different from the other Chinese women he had met. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adv.c1405 |