Commonly confused words: supple vs. subtle
Monday, 4 November 2013 18:38![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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fandom_grammarThe two words on today’s agenda may look a bit alike at first glance, but they don’t have much in common at all. Supple and subtle are what we’ll be discussing today, with some help from the Magnificent Seven.
Supple
Supple comes to us from the Old French word souple, meaning “pliant or flexible,” which are still its most commonly used definitions today. The Old French traces its roots back to the Latin supplex, which means “submissive or humbly begging.” When we think of a supplicant or someone who is humbly begging, we may think of someone who is bending or kneeling down… someone who is pliant or flexible.
Most of the definitions of supple involve the idea of flexibility, whether of body or attitude; for example, one meaning indicates a person who is compliant or servile to the point of obsequiousness. However, most of the uses of supple that we’ll come across in published works (fic or pro) are all about describing something—or someone—being limber, lithe, and bendy.
Subtle
Subtle refers to things that are not easily seen, that are not blatant. This word, too, originated in Old French, but other than that, there’s no similarity to supple above. The Old French word sutel or soutil derives from the Latin subtilis, meaning “fine, thin, delicate, finely woven,” which makes sense since part of the Latin root refers to weaving (of fabric).
The most common uses of subtle involve things that are difficult to perceive or understand, or, conversely, mental acuity and cleverness, or perhaps slyness. This is a very wide range of usage. Characters that are observant will be able to notice or understand things that may not be readily apparent to everyone else.
While supple and subtle both start with the same su- sound, they’re really quite different. If you want to describe something that bends or folds easily—something pliant—supple is your word. If you’re referring to something that’s not easily detected, except by the observant, you’ll want subtle.
Sources:
Dictionary.com here and here
Merriam-Webster here and here
The Free Dictionary here and here
Etymology Online here and here
Supple
Supple comes to us from the Old French word souple, meaning “pliant or flexible,” which are still its most commonly used definitions today. The Old French traces its roots back to the Latin supplex, which means “submissive or humbly begging.” When we think of a supplicant or someone who is humbly begging, we may think of someone who is bending or kneeling down… someone who is pliant or flexible.
Most of the definitions of supple involve the idea of flexibility, whether of body or attitude; for example, one meaning indicates a person who is compliant or servile to the point of obsequiousness. However, most of the uses of supple that we’ll come across in published works (fic or pro) are all about describing something—or someone—being limber, lithe, and bendy.
“If you want a coat made of leather,” Vin said, “you want something that isn’t all stiff.” He shook one of the tanned hides for sale, and it flapped stiffly, without bending. “This one’ll need a lot of work before it’s flexible enough to shape to your body.” When JD said nothing, Vin glanced over, and saw the kid’s face was red. “JD, you listening to me?”
Behind them, Buck hooted with laughter. “I reckon JD’s thinking about something else being supple like that,” he said. At his words, JD blushed even redder.
Subtle
Subtle refers to things that are not easily seen, that are not blatant. This word, too, originated in Old French, but other than that, there’s no similarity to supple above. The Old French word sutel or soutil derives from the Latin subtilis, meaning “fine, thin, delicate, finely woven,” which makes sense since part of the Latin root refers to weaving (of fabric).
The most common uses of subtle involve things that are difficult to perceive or understand, or, conversely, mental acuity and cleverness, or perhaps slyness. This is a very wide range of usage. Characters that are observant will be able to notice or understand things that may not be readily apparent to everyone else.
Vin slid down from the rocky outcropping where he’d climbed to get the lay of the land. “They’re headed to Mexico,” was all he said as he mounted his horse again.
“And how do you know, Mister Tanner?” Ezra asked. “Some subtle shift in the wind, perhaps?”
Vin snorted and tugged his horse around. “Nothing subtle about a big cloud of dust headed south, Ezra.”
While supple and subtle both start with the same su- sound, they’re really quite different. If you want to describe something that bends or folds easily—something pliant—supple is your word. If you’re referring to something that’s not easily detected, except by the observant, you’ll want subtle.
Sources:
Dictionary.com here and here
Merriam-Webster here and here
The Free Dictionary here and here
Etymology Online here and here
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