English → Latin
“subtlety” in Latin
subtīlitāsfineness, thinness, slenderness, minuteness; keenness, acuteness; exactness, subtletytenuitāsthinness, fineness, delicateness; poverty; frugalityaciēssharp edge or point; battle line; battle, engagementacūmena sharpened pointā̆stūtiacunning, craftiness, cleverness, shrewdness (adeptness at using tricks); subtlety; a cunning trick, stratagemversūtiacunning, slyness, craftinesscalliditāsshrewdness, readiness, aptness; skill, skilfulness; cunning, craft, slyness, artfulness
The English word subtlety itself goes back to Latin tēla, through subtīlitās.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
subtlety
Fineness, subtilitas: tenuitas (Plin.).
Acuteness, acies: acumen: subtilitas: acies ingenii.
Craft, astutia: versutia (natural): calliditas (acquired by practice).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for subtlety?
- The usual Latin words for “subtlety” are subtīlitās, tenuitās, aciēs; also acūmen, ā̆stūtia, versūtia. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.