subtly

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“
By the time Coombe stood in the hall a latchkey was put in the keyhole and, being turned, the door opened to let in Carson--or Bayle--who entered with an air of angered determination, followed by his young man The physical presence of the Head of the House of Coombe was always described as a subtly impressive one.

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Definitions (5)

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  1. In a subtle manner; with subtlety. Ingeniously; cleverly; delicately; nicely. I know how suttly greatest Clarks Presume to argue in their learned Works. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 2. In the nice bee what sense so subtly true From poisonous herbs extract the healing dew? Pope, Essay on Man, i. 219. Substance and expression subtly interblended. J. Caird.
  2. Slyly; artfully; cunningly. Thou seest How subtly to detain thee I devise. Milton, P. L., viii. 207.
  3. Deceitfully; delusively. Thou proud dream, That play'st so subtly with a king's repose. Shak., Hen. V., iv. l. 275.

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Examples (50)

  • She flashed her badge, subtly, and then showed her a picture of Benjamin Creeley. —  The Cold Moon
  • Then her body changed subtly, and he released her. —  Up In A Heaval
  • Far in the background the throbbing drive of the great ship altered subtly, then increased slightly in volume. —  SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURES MAGAZINE
  • Something had happened to change the three--subtly, almost imperceptibly in Galliard's case, markedly in the other two. —  SICK HEART RIVER
  • The hills were growing taller and taller around them as, subtly, they moved into the Shark's Gullet. —  And when Elric had told his three lies to Cymoril, his betrothed, and had set his ambitious cousin Yyrkoon as Regent on the Ru
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This word has been looked up 38 times.

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Etymologies (1)

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  1. Early modern English also suttly; from Middle English sotyly; from subtle + -ly. Cf. subtilely.
 

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/ˈsətli/
by Lee Davis-Thalbourne

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