Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SUB-TIL-I-ZA'TION, n. [from subtilize.]

1. The act of making subtil, fine or thin. In the laboratory, the operation of making so volatile as to rise in steam or vapor. – Cheyne.
2. Refinement; extreme acuteness.

SUB'TIL-IZE, v.i.

To refine in argument; to make very nice distinctions. In whatever manner the papist might subtilize. – Milner.

SUB'TI-LIZE, v.t. [Fr. subtiliser, from L. subtilis.]

1. To make thin or fine; to make less gross or coarse. – Cheyne.
2. To refine; to spin into niceties; as, to subtilize arguments.

SUB'TIL-IZ-ED, pp.

Made thin or fine.

SUB'TIL-IZ-ING, ppr.

Making thin or fine; refining.

SUB'TIL-LY, adv.

1. Thinly; not densely.
2. Finely; not grossly or thickly. The opakest bodies, if subtilly divided … become perfectly transparent. – Newton.
3. Artfully; cunningly; craftily; as, a scheme subtilly contrived.

SUB'TIL-NESS, n.

1. Thinness; rareness; as, the subtilness of air.
2. Fineness; acuteness; as, the subtilness of an argument.
3. Cunning; artfulness; as, the subtilness of a foe.

SUB'TIL-TY, n. [Fr. subtilité; L. subtilitas.]

1. Thinness; fineness; exility; in a physical sense; as, the subtilty of air or light; the subtilty of sounds. – Bacon. Grew.
2. Refinement; extreme acuteness. Intelligible discourses are spoiled by too much subtilty in nice divisions. – Locke.
3. Slyness in design; cunning; artifice; usually but less properly written subtlety.

SUB'TLE, a. [See Subtil.]

1. Sly in design; artful; cunning; insinuating; applied to persons; as, a subtle foe.
2. Cunningly devised; as, a subtle stratagem.

SUB'TLY, adv.

1. Slily; artfully; cunningly. Thou seest how subtly to detain thee I devise. – Milton.
2. Nicely; delicately. In the nice bee, what sense so subtly true. – Pope.

SUB-TON'IC, or SUB-SEM'I-TONE, n.

The semitone or note next below the tonic; the leading note of the scale.

SUB-TRACT', v.t. [L. subtraho, subtractus; sub and traho, to draw.]

To withdraw or take a part from the rest; to deduct. Subtract 5 from 9, and the remainder is 4.

SUB-TRACT'ED, pp.

Withdrawn from the rest; deducted.

SUB-TRACT'ER, n.

1. He that subtracts.
2. The number to be taken from a larger number. [Not used.] [See Subtrahend.]

SUB-TRACT'ING, ppr.

Withdrawing from the rest; deducting.

SUB-TRAC'TION, n. [L. subtractio.]

1. The act or operation of taking a part from the rest.
2. In arithmetic, the taking of a lesser number from a greater of the same kind or denomination; an operation by which is found the difference between two sums.

SUB-TRACT'IVE, a.

Tending or having power to subtract.

SUB-TRA-HEND', n.

In arithmetic, the sum or number to be subtracted or taken from another.

SUB-TRI'FID, a.

Slightly trifid. – Martyn.

SUB-TRIP'LE, a. [sub and triple.]

Containing a third or one part of three. – Wilkins.

SUB-TRIP'LI-CATE, a.

In the ratio of the cubes.

SUB-TU'TOR, n. [sub and tutor.]

An under tutor. – Burnet.

SUB'U-LATE, a. [L. subula, an awl.]

In botany, shaped like an awl; awl-shaped. A subulate leaf, is linear at the bottom, but gradually tapering toward the end. – Martyn.

SUB-UN-DA'TION, n. [L. sub and unda.]

Flood; deluge. – Huloet.

SUB-UN'GU-AL, a. [L. sub and unguis.]

Under the nail.