c. 1300, sotilte, "skill, ingenuity," from Old French sotilte "skillfulness, cunning" (Modern French subtilité), from Latin subtilitatem (nominative subtilitas) "fineness; simplicity, slenderness," noun of quality from subtilis "fine, thin, delicate" (see subtle). From late 14c. as "cleverness, shrewdness; trickery, guile, craftiness," also "thinness, slenderness, smallness; rarity." The -b- begins to appear late 14c. in English, in imitation of Latin.
实用例句
1. In time you'll appreciate the beauty and subtlety of this language.
总有一天你会体会到这门语言的优美和微妙之处。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Many of the resulting wines lack the subtlety of the original model.
许多如此酿制的葡萄酒都不像最初的葡萄酒那样耐人品味。
来自柯林斯例句
3. They had obviously been hoping to approach the topic with more subtlety.
他们显然一直希望能更巧妙地切入这一话题。
来自柯林斯例句
4. She analyses herself with great subtlety.
她非常敏锐地分析自己。
来自柯林斯例句
5. African dance is vigorous, but full of subtlety.