subtilis Latin · revision 9368

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Lucretius|origins=la sub, la tēla}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [sʊpˈtiː.lɪs], [sʊpˈtiː.liːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [subˈtiː.lis], [subˈtiː.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''subtīlis''' (neuter subtīle, comparative subtīlior, superlative subtīlissimus, adverb subtīliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ Also spelled ''suptīlis''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is apparently from [[sub]] “under” and [[tēla]] “web, warp” with the suffix ⟨-is⟩, originally a weaving term, “finely woven”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source and Gaffiot's first citations are from Lucretius, of a fine thread.^(Köbler 2010)^(Gaffiot 2016) Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant fine in texture, thin, as in Lucretius' ''subtīle fīlum'' and Catullus; of art, finely detailed, as in Vitruvius; of people and the senses, discerning, fastidious, as in Horace; attentive to fine points, exact, as in Cicero; in rhetoric, of a plain argumentative style without appeal to the emotions; and of laws, strict, literal, as in Ulpian.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant fine, slender, plain, exact, keen.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for cunning, crafty, and as a noun for a liturgical garment of a subdeacon.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[en|subtle]] (about 1300, “penetrating, ingenious”) came through Old French ''sotil''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it of fine texture.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of exactness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''subtle'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Fine in texture, thin.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Finely detailed, delicate.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Discerning, fastidious; exact, precise, [[m|en|subtle]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(rhetoric)'' Plain, matter-of-fact.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(law)'' Strict, literal.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Cunning, [[m|en|crafty]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A liturgical garment of a [[m|en|subdeacon]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[insubtīlis]]

+ * [[persubtīlis]]

+ * [[subtīliloquentia]]

+ * [[subtīliloquus]]

+ * [[subtīliō]]

+ * [[subtīlitās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tēla]]

+ * [[en|subtle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}