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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Subtil(l)y, Suttelly, adv. Also: subtil(l)ie, subtil(l)e, subtyle, subtel(l)y, subtel(l)ie, subtellye, subtelle, subtilye, sut(t)ellie, sutelly(e, sutely, sutellie, sutailly, sittalie. [ME and e.m.E. sotylleche (c1315), subtyly, -tilly (both Chaucer), sutelly (c1400), subtily (a1425), sotyly (1414); Subtil(l adj.]

1. With subtle insight and understanding; discerningly, penetratingly; acutely.(a) 1456 Hay II 161/26.
And he suld be … of gude understanding and wys, that he could wysly subtily and discretly … dyte and wryte thy nedefull secrete materis 1490 Irland Mir. II 147/10.
And our this spekand mar subtely & profoundly this terme caus amang gret clerkis … is tane twa wais c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xviii 48.
Gude James the Ferd … said full subtillie, ‘Do weill, and sett not by demying’ a1538 Abell 13a.
Socrates … wrait mair subtile of … God na othir philosophuris did(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 56.
His fadir thane … Gert informe hyme besyly In liberale hartis sutely Of Grece a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 335.
He … Folouyt his mastir in al thing, & wald consawe ful sutelly Quhat-euire he taucht

2. Cleverly, ingeniously, artfully; (made, constructed, etc.) with ingenuity or dexterity. ?1438 Alex. ii 3704.
The listis [of the chess-board] of gold war … Subtyle wrocht with ane engyne ?1438 Alex. ii 3883.
Ȝe are sle dame … And sewis it weill, … But threid or nedill all subtelly c1420 Wynt. ii 133.
Sere Dardane, … Fra quhom Barbere sutely Has made a propyr genealogy c1420 Wynt. ii 1306 (W).
Than a steid he maid in hy A closoure wonder subtely c1420 Wynt.viii 2207 (C).
Suttelly a1500 Rauf C. 678.
Circulit with siluer semely to sene Selcouthly in seir he was set suttelly Blyth byrdis abufe and bestiall full bene a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 7.
Singand this sang that suttellie wes sete 1485 Acts II 174/2.
Fals countirfatit money … strikin in cunȝe … sa subtellie and in sic forme of mettale that it is vnpossible to … knaw the trew fra the fals 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 805 (L).
On lutis sum thair accentis subtelle. Deuydyt weil and held mesure lang 1513 Doug. viii x 70.
The speir, and eik the scheild so subtelly Forgyt a1540 Freiris Berw. 14 (B).
The wallis wrocht craftely withall The port cules most subtelly to fall Quhen that thame list to draw thame vpoun hicht c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 140.
Tabletis of gold, … With saphiris set so suttellie and sound

3. Cunningly, craftily, deceitfully; by means of craft or guile.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii 2329.
[She] hes my hart sa subtely … Wounded … That it na wound na ire may mak c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2694.
Pirrus … Was in loue gyrned subtelly With faire Hermonia 1456 Hay I 150/12.
Within a moneth efter, he … brekis his company subtily, that the king wate nocht na the constable a1500 Henr. Fab. 2406.
Lowrence gird doun baith sone and subtellie a1500 Seven S. 862.
Gif we mycht … Wnder the erd full prevely With mattokis myne it subtelly 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 948 (L).
Ȝone catiue … A laithly ryme dispitefull subtelle Compelit hes c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 254 (M).
I was dissemlit subtelie in ane sanctis liknes a1538 Abell 84b.
The Inglis men meiklie askand pece subtile thai wrocht dissait c1552 Lynd. Mon. 902.
The serpent … Traistyng the better to preuaill, Full subtellye did hir assaill. With … wordis, fals and fair, He grew with hir familiair 1585–6 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 141.
Subtilie 1596 Dalr. I 297/5. 1664 Dundee B. Laws 416.
That no partie or parties of the glower craft shall … sedwce or swbtilye aleynat or tak awaye directlye or indirectlye another man's servant(b) 1375 Barb. vi 524.
Johne of Lorn full sutelly Behynd thoucht to suppris the kyng a1400 Leg. S. xi 238.
The apostolis for invy Agane hyme wrocht sutelly a1400 Leg. S. xii 75.
Scho … sutely gert the king wene That schow with knaf barne had bene c1475 Wall. i 63.
Full sutailly he [sc. Edward I] chargit thaim in bandoune, … till hald of hym the croun c1475 Wall. iv 639.
The Sothron … Full sutellye thar ordinance thai maid, The rang agayne bownyt but mar abaid c1475 Wall. vii 413.
The woman past befor thaim suttelly, Cawkit ilk ȝett that thai neid nocht gang by 1533 Gau 48/17.
Sutellie(c) 1561 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 197.
For suppressing of the veratie … and to blind the juge the said Robert sittalie and cancelouslie absentis the said principale letter [etc.]