subtlety

The quality of being subtle.; The quality of being scarcely noticeable or difficult to discern. (of things)countableuncountable

• the subtlety of the Mona Lisa’s smile

The quality of being subtle.; The quality of being done in a clever way that is not obvious or not direct; the quality of being carefully thought out. (of things)countableuncountable

• the subtlety of a writer’s analysis / of a singer’s phrasing

The quality of being subtle.; The quality of being able to achieve one's aims through clever, delicate or indirect methods. (of people)countableuncountable

• With all his usual subtlety, he quietly fixed the problem before anyone else noticed it.

The quality of being subtle.; The quality of being able to notice or understand things that are not obvious. (of people)countableuncountable

• To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
• his subtilty in thinking and reasoning were profound,

An instance of being subtle, a subtle thing, especially a subtle argument or distinction.countable

• The subtleties of this overture are often overlooked.
• 1561, William Whittingham et al. (translators), Geneva Bible, Wisdom of Solomon 8.8, [S]he [Wisdom] knoweth the subtilties of wordes, and the solutions of darke sentences:

An ornate medieval illusion dish or table decoration, especially when made from one thing but crafted to look like another.countablehistorical

• At the king's coronation feast, several subtleties were served between main courses.

The quality of being clever in surreptitious or deceitful behaviour; an act or argument that shows this quality.archaiccountableuncountable

• When eyther Hare or Deare, or any other chase vseth subtleties to deceyue the houndes, we saye they crosse or double.
• [She] resolued now with plainnesse to winne trust, which trust she might after deceyue with a greater subtletie.

A trick that creates a false appearance.countableobsolete

• You doe yet taste / Some subtleties o’ th’ Isle, that will not let you / Beleeue things certaine:

The property of having a low density or thin consistency.obsoleteuncountable

• 1630, Thomas Johnson (translator/editor), A Treatise of the Plague […] Collected out of the workes of […] Ambrose Parey, London, Chapter 11, p. 33, Therefore at Paris where naturally, and also through the aboundance of filth that is about t

The property of being able to penetrate materials easily.obsoleteuncountable

• Hence we see the amazing Subtlety of this Fire, which pervades Glass as readily as if nothing were in the Way.