Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “subtle” come from?

Subtle comes from Middle English subtil, from Old French sotil, from Latin subtilis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European upo meaning under or below.

subtle (English): Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood;...

Definitions

  1. Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood;...

Ancestry of “subtle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishsotilUsing brainpower; smart or wise; Low in a...
2Old Frenchsotil—
3Latinsubtīlis—
4Latintēla—
5Old Dutchtegela—
6Proto-Germanic*tigulā—
7Proto-Germanictigulǭtile; brick
8Latintēgula—
9Latintegō—
10Proto-Italictegōcover
11Proto-Indo-European(s)teg-to cover; pole, stick, beam

Words derived from “subtle”

  • unsubtle
  • unsubtly
  • supersubtle
  • subtlely
  • oversubtle
  • nonsubtle
  • subtely
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)teg- →