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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Subtil(l, Suttill, adj. (n.). Also: subtille, -tel(l, -teil(l, -tile, -tyle, sut(t)el(l, suttale, sutaille, sutle, sutile, sut(t)yle, sittill, sitell, scitell. [ME and e.m.E. sotill (Cursor M.), sutil (Rolle), sotil(e (c1350), sotel (1357), sotyle (Piers Plowman), subtil(l (Chaucer), soubtil (Gower), OF sutil (c1112 in Larousse), later latinised as subtil (c1330 in Larousse), L. subtīlis fine, delicate.]

A. adj. 1. Not dense or thick in texture, essence or consistency; fine, clear, light; ethereal.(a) 1456 Hay II 137/6, 7.
The sutil metis engenderis gude blude, clere and clene and subtil 1494 Loutfut MS 11a.
Azur … is … lik to the hevin & to the air And is the maist noble elyment nixt eftir the fire for it is in the self subtell and penetratife 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 100.
Latonya, … Hir subtell blenkis sched and watry lycht 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 140.
Quharof the beys wrocht thar hunny sweit, … In sappy subtell exalations 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 21.
Taking at morning twa spunfull of quhyte odoratiue subtile vyne 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 25.
All meitis preseruatiue most be of gude subtill substance & dry 1580 Hume Promine 74.
Subtil 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 45.
Nou as to thir foure elementis … To uitt the subtill air, the fyre, [etc.] 1587-99 Hume 18/28.
Na subtile fire nor hailsome air to flurish flowres or treis 1587-99 Hume 27/53. 1626 Garden Worthies 105.
Thy outward parts … Wes bot the cadge or cace that did inclood … Th' essentiall soul, pure, subteill & celest(b) 1456 Hay I 283/23.
[The colour azure] is … sutile and penetratyf ressavand the lycht throu it and hable till ressave all influences of the planetis 1456 Hay II 118/21.
Quhen his body is dry and sclender … than is nedefull till him tendar metis … and of sutil vapouracioun moystis 1456 Hay II 138/5.
Water is of his nature calde and moyste … bot his nature is sutile and rynnis throu the condytis of the body [etc.]

b. Subtle pound (weight), the pound (system of weights) used in weighing fine substances, bullion, etc. 1663 Reg. Privy C. in Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 149.
The lords … [agreed to] the proposition … anent the pound sutle desyred to be maid use of hereafter for taking the essayes of silver, that the same should be of fourty eight graines or thereby, and that the sutle weight for the gold containing twentie four carrets be of the weight of twenty four graines or thereby

2. Abstruse, obscure, involved; difficult (to understand).(a) 1456 Hay I 14/28.
[The] visioun, the quhilk Sanct Johne the Ewangelist sawe in the Ile of Pathmos … suppos it be sum part subtile to understand 1456 Hay I 191/32.
Lefand the opynyouns of oure maistris and doctouris, the quhilkis ar our subtil to understand 1456 Hay II 77/35.
With mony othir questiouns … to spere and to wit of the quhilkis thingis certaynly ar sa subtile and hye science and understanding that scantly may ony spirit mortall tak ony knaulage tharof c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 306.
It is nocht spedfull till a man of sympil knawlege til inquere our far in subtyll materis of Godis preuate 1490 Irland Mir. II 151/1.
Thi mynd that is inclinit to propone ask and demand hie and subtil questioun 1513 Doug. i Prol. 305.
Les sum history, subtell word or the ryme Causith me mak digressioun sum tyme 1513 Doug. Transl. 194/18.
Gret scant of tyme and bissy cuyr Has maid my wark mair subtell and obscur 1528 Lynd. Dreme 544.
Myne ingyne is nocht suffecient For to treit of his heych deuinitie … Sic subtell mater I man, on neid, lat be a1568 Bell. in Bann. MS 3a/148.
Quhen scho this subteill argument began … That God eterne micht stand ane mortall man(b) c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 24.
To wryte, … in to plane and opyne style, But curyous wordis or suttyle

b. Involving complicated reasoning and discussion; detailed, painstaking. 1533 Boece 30.
Amang the Grekis began ane subtile plede Quhay was maist nobyll and prudent capitane … to succede

c. Inherently complex; problematical. 1456 Hay I 284/31.
Gif he had gude wis counsale of wele understandand men of lawe … for commounly the casis ar sa subtile to juge that [etc.]

3. a. Of a person: Skilful, ingenious, expert; clever, able (to do something). Also const. in.a. (1) c1400 Troy-bk. i 594.
Medea … wes Mast perfyt in astronomye And ek in-to gramantye … So soueranly scho was subtill That thar was neuir nane hyr lyk c1420 Ratis R. 1698.
Albert [sc. Albertus Magnus], the subtyll clerk and wys c1420 Wynt. v 4328.
Huchowne … wes curyws in hys style Fayre off facund and subtille 1460 Hay Alex. 15825.
[He] send for men of craft the worthiest Off all that land and eik the subtillest And thare devisit to mak ane tvn of glas 1490 Irland Mir. II 106/14.
The doctour subtil [sc. Duns Scotus] … inducis viii maner of wais to preif and persuaid the faith a1538 Abell 96b.
Johne Scot subtile born in Scotland 15.. Clar. ii 1361.
This forsaid knicht … fetchit … Carvors, painters, and subtillest devysers, To make the listis to the interprisers 1560 Rolland Seven S. 107.
My cunning men, and my medicinars, My cirugians and als my potingars, My practicianes quhilkis ar suttell and slie 1600-1610 Melvill 76.
He brought with him an Monsieur Mombirneau, a subtill spreit, a mirrie fellow, verie able in bodie, and maist meit in all respects for bewitching of the youthe of a prince(b) c1475 Wall. vii 1150.
A wricht he tuk, the suttellast at thar was(2) c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 218.
The gret inwy that was amange nychtbouris, … quhilkis was nocht sa subtell to wyne the warldis gudis(3) 1456 Hay I 38/30.
[He] was rycht subtile in spech of Latyn a1500 Seven S. 642.
He wald his newo send For he wald haue experiens Gif he was subtell in sciens c1515 Asl. MS I 244/22.
Allane Pantour that was … mast subtell in mony diuers thingis

b. Of a person's behaviour, qualities of mind, etc.: Highly developed, intellectual, expert, clever. Also transf.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1846.
For to fluris wele thar tale … With richt subtell eloquence c1420 Ratis R. 1705.
Albert … Throw his subtill perfeccioune … opnit out, That war wnknawing & to dowt 1456 Hay I 202/12.
Thir doctouris … assignys mony resouns and subtile argumentis 1456 Hay II 78/11.
For God has givin thé wit, understanding wyth a lycht subtile engyne c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 521.
The parabolys ar nocht tan be the fyrst face, bot … be the documentis of wys clerkis that knawis the subtill ymaginacione of the sayar a1500 Bk. Chess 199.
The corporall seyng of the e Stoppis sum tyme the subtell mynd of men 1513 Doug. vi x 86.
Subtel(b) c1420 Wynt. v 3552.
Sutyle off ingyne he was … and eloquenttransf. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 133.
But seid of man this virgin … The sone of God consauit into haist Be subtell virking of the Haly Gaist

c. Of material or non-material things: Ingenious in conception or execution; skilfully made, designed or performed.(1) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1436.
Pinnakillis, fyellis, … Subtile muldrie wrocht mony day agone 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 117.
Ane toure of the said castell, quhilk wes … hewin with maist subtill muldry of sindry flouris and ymagerijs c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 585.
That hald … With subtill wark it was sa roborat(b) 1513 Doug. ii iv 73.
This suttell hors of tre … mannysand slydis throu the myd cite 1513 Doug. v v 15.
A mantil … Quharon was weyf, in suttel goldyn thredis, Kyng Troyus son(c) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4168 (Ch.).
Gold smythis … Remember my memoriall With mony ane sittill cast(2) c1420 Ratis R. 388.
Gud quantice … Subtill craftis … Ȝit can scho a1500 Henr. Orph. 136.
O dulfull harpe … ces of all thi subtell sangis sweit 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 511, 513.
Nor Amphion with mony subtell layis, … Nor he that first the subtell craftis foundit Was … in musick half sa weill igroundit(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 13 (Bann.).
So springis thair a morall sueit sentence Out of the scitell dyt of poetre

4. Of persons: Wise, perceptive, perspicacious, shrewd. ?1438 Alex. ii 3276.
The gude man … was richt wyse and subtell baith c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1994.
He Gart specialie lettres … by ane subtell [L. sapientem] messingeir to Cletemistra send c1420 Ratis R. 869.
Gyf thow be rud and nocht subtyll, … Set neuir thi hart … to have gret thing in gouernynge 1456 Hay I 250/10.
A man fastand is mare wis, mare subtile, and better temperit na full 1456 Hay II 157/24.
Sum man rude as ane as, and sum man bathe subtile and habile as a dyamant a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 697.
Sa huge wes the melle Wes nane sa sutell couth se Quhilk gome suld gouern the gre, Bot God that al weildis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 25.
Cholerik … is hardie and fre, Subtell and wyse, stoutter and more manlie, Bot small of face [etc.]

5. Of persons, animals, society, etc.: Cunning, sly, deceitful. Also proverb. and transf.(a) 1456 Hay I 244/29.
The warld is worthit sa subtile in falshede that nane is or few that may kepe thame tharwith but a fall a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 825 (Asl.).
Ȝe subtell schrewis corrupparis of the law 1494 Loutfut MS 16b.
The sanglier … is richt ferce wnclene & ennuyse best and of gret fors … Tharfor the berar of sanglier in his armes signifies a fechtar subtell and stark 1535 Stewart 51651.
This flatterand freir … This subtill serpent … for thair plesour larglie wald spend In cumpany 1549 Compl. 106/19.
Inglis men ar subtil and Scottis men ar facile 1549 Compl. 182/24.
He persauit that the cordonar vas ane astuce subtel falou & dissymilit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 893.
The serpent wes the subtellest Aboue all beistis, and craftyest 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5752.
Wemen bene richt craftie in thair wark. And richt subtell for to tyist ony man 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 154/27.
Subtyle a1570-86 Maitl. F. 288/17.
Als semple luikis the subtill man As he that of na falsat can 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 30.
Allace, how lang sall subtill Sathan rage? 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 163/456.
Sitell 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 42.
The Jesuits be the subtilist folk that breathes … under the prætext of visitting they fly to a sick carkcass … as ravens does to their prey(b) a1400 Leg. S. xv 65.
Barnabas had persawynge That thai in sume part sutel ware c1475 Wall. i 273.
Suthroun ar full sutaille euirilk man c1475 Wall. vi 113.
The Inglismen, that euir fals has beyne, With … Robert Thorn, a felloune sutell knycht 1494 Loutfut MS 17b.
The regnart is a rycht suttell best to knaw & get his pray c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 256.
I semyt … sempill without fraud, Bot I couth sexty dissaif that suttillar wer haldin 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1226.
O vyle uiper maist vennemus, O suttell serpent sulphuriusproverb. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. 199.
The subtill foxe may weill be beaten bot newer broken from stealling his prayetransf. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7774.
The theif quhilk I suld haue walkit quhill day Sum subtell handis hes stollin him quite away

b. Of actions, stratagems, language, arguments, etc.(a) 1456 Hay II 154/25.
It may fall that … a man … ger thé traiste he be thy best frende be his fayre subtile langage, quhill he see his tyme to oursett thé 1490 Irland Mir. II 23/19.
This fals and subtil opynioun of Arestotill I haue tretit at lenth a1500 Seven S. 886.
[He] thar devysit a subtell gyn c1515 Asl. MS I 199/21.
Quhar throw ȝe lerit & was brocht in vse of all ȝour fair flattering langage & subtell deidis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 237.
Our namis bene Achitophel and Sinone, That by our subtell menis feill hes slane c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxiv 35.
Be subtill winkis, and thair desaitfull talis 1513 Doug. vi ii 43.
In subtel wordis of obscurite Involupand the trewth and verite 1535 Stewart 26739.
Marling … wes … Ane incobus with subtill sorcerie 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 205. 1549 Compl. 153/24.
Quhen Kyng Cirus herd the subtil discymilit pleisant interpretatione of Cresus vordis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 4.
Scho assayit the ȝoung and unexperientit gentilman with ane new subtill practise 1574 Acts III 87/2.
That all ydill personis … using subtile crafty and vnlauchfull playis as iuglerie … salbe … pvneist as … vagaboundis 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 17.
Be the craftie subteil and ongodlie handling of his wyf 1592 Mining Rec. 82.
The general allegis that this is ane subtil plat to debar vthers and to bring all the mynis in oure handis 1633 Justiciary Cases I 215.
[He] insinuat himselff be subteill and intyseing speiches in the said Lady Katharene hir fauour 1640 Fugitive Poetry II xix 5/15.
Baylie is bold now with his subtile pen(b) 1375 Barb. xix 32.
Sa sutell purchas can he ma, That he gert tak thame euirilkane c1475 Wall. i 84.
Be suttale band thai cordyt of this thing c1475 Wall. v 147.
A suttell straik wpwart him tuk that tide c1475 Wall. xi 1030.
Menteth … spak to Wallace; Syn schawyt him furth a rycht sutell fals cace 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 103.
With mony suttel wyle 1524 Douglas Corr. 97.
That I be not, be no suttell menis nor craft, circumvendit to the Frans faver 1533 Gau 28/4. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 113.
Sa mycht thai fynd mony suttill inventionis to get uther mennis wyffis, [etc.]

c. In weakened sense: ? Sinister; ? insidious. Arundel MS 274/6.
The blisfull orient sone, With ioy is partit fra the subtell nycht; His bemes persit hes the skyis doun

B. n. pl. Fluids, liquids. (Cf. A adj. 1 above.) a1605 Montg. Sonn. lvi 9.
Suppose the solids subtilis ay restrantis