All 3 Uses of
subtle
in
Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis
- Rather testy, tired of so many subtleties, he complained, "Well, I'll do what I can, but I'll have to wait till the board meets."†
Chpt 32 *subtleties = things that are not obvious, but noticeable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge
- The only trouble with 'The Girl from Kankakee' is that it's too subtle for Gopher Prairie!†
Chpt 18
- She alternately considered ways of leaving Kennicott, and remembered his virtues, pitied his bewilderment in face of the subtle corroding sicknesses which he could not dose nor cut out.†
Chpt 31
Definitions:
-
(1)
(subtle as in: a subtle poison) working in an indirect or hidden way
-
(2)
(subtle as in: a subtle shade of blue) understated so as not to draw excess attention
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(3)
(subtle as in: a subtle difference or thinker) not obvious, but noticeable with enough insight and knowledge
or:
able to notice or understand things that require insight and sensitivity