In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
SUBTLETY
subtlety, niceness
(noun) the quality of being difficult to detect or analyze; “you had to admire the subtlety of the distinctions he drew”
nuance, nicety, shade, subtlety, refinement
(noun) a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude; “without understanding the finer nuances you can’t enjoy the humor”; “don’t argue about shades of meaning”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
subtlety (countable and uncountable, plural subtleties)
(uncountable) The quality of being subtle.
(of things) The quality of being scarcely noticeable or difficult to discern.
(of things) The quality of being done in a clever way that is not obvious or not direct; the quality of being carefully thought out.
Synonym: refinement
(of people) The quality of being able to achieve one's aims through clever, delicate or indirect methods.
Synonyms: discretion, finesse, savoir-faire
(of people) The quality of being able to notice or understand things that are not obvious.
Synonyms: acumen, perceptiveness, perspicacity
(countable) An instance of being subtle, a subtle thing, especially a subtle argument or distinction.
Synonyms: nicety, nuance
(countable, historical) An ornate medieval illusion dish or table decoration, especially when made from one thing but crafted to look like another.
(uncountable, countable, archaic) The quality of being clever in surreptitious or deceitful behaviour; an act or argument that shows this quality.
Synonyms: artifice, craftiness, cunning, deceitfulness, slyness, trickery
(countable, obsolete) A trick that creates a false appearance.
Synonyms: deception, illusion
(uncountable, obsolete) The property of having a low density or thin consistency.
(uncountable, obsolete) The property of being able to penetrate materials easily.
Synonyms: penetrancy, piercingness
Source: Wiktionary
Sub"tle*ty, n.; pl. Subtleties. Etym: [OE. sotelte, sutilte, OF. sotillete, L. subtilitas. See Subtle, and cf. Subtility.]
1. The quality or state of being subtle, or sly; cunning; craftiness; artfulness. The fox which lives by subtlety. Shak.
2. Nice discernment with delicacy of mental action; nicety of discrimination.
3. Something that is sly, crafty, or delusive. Unlearned in the world's false subtleties. Shak.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
22 April 2025
BRIGHT
(adjective) made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow; “bright silver candlesticks”; “a burnished brass knocker”; “she brushed her hair until it fell in lustrous auburn waves”; “rows of shining glasses”; “shiny black patents”
Coffee Trivia
