subtilly

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A form of subtly — With subtleness, in a subtle manner; with cleverness rather than brute force.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

adverbsubtilly (comparative more subtilly, superlative most subtilly)

comparative more subtilly · superlative most subtilly

  1. obsoleteObsolete form of subtly.

    He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 105:25
    2 more examples

    […] one jewel, (as writers make mention,) which was a certain vessel finely and subtilly made of the precious stone onychinus, so radiantly wrought, that in it appeared the lively corn growing, and men's images walking, &c.

    1563 March 30 (Gregorian calendar), John Foxe, chapter 24, in Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous Dayes, […], London: […] Iohn Day, […], →OCLC

    For though Contraria iuxta ſe poſita magis illuceſcunt [opposites placed next to each other shine more brightly] (by an olde Rule) yet it hath beene ſubtilly, and indeede truely noted that our Sight, is not vvell contented, vvith thoſe ſudden departments, from one extreame to another; Therefore let them haue, rather a Duskiſh Tincture, then an abſolute blacke.

    1624, Henry Wotton, The Elements of Architecture, […], London: […] Iohn Bill, →OCLC, II. part, page 104

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

subtilly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtilly

MLA

“subtilly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtilly. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subtilly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subtilly.

Source: subtilly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.