Polish edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin subtīlis + -ny. Earlier, as expected, subtylny.[1] The current form is hypercorrect – when the accepted pronunciation of é was changing from y to e, the word was reinterpreted as subtélny, and the new y-less form was reinforced by adjectives in -telny.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /supˈtɛl.nɨ/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛlnɨ
  • Syllabification: sub‧tel‧ny

Adjective edit

subtelny (comparative subtelniejszy, superlative najsubtelniejszy, derived adverb subtelnie)

  1. considerate, tactful
    Synonym: taktowny
  2. subtle (cleverly contrived)
    Synonyms: oględny, wymyślny
  3. gentle (tender and amiable)
    Synonym: delikatny
  4. mignon, minikin, petite
    Synonym: filigranowy
  5. insubstantial, slight
    Synonyms: łagodny, nieznaczny
  6. subtle (cunning, skillful)
    Synonym: dyskretny

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

noun

References edit

Further reading edit

  • subtelny in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
  • subtelny in Polish dictionaries at PWN