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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Subtilize

Sŭb'til-īze, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SUBTILIZED; p. pr. & vb. n. SUBTILIZING.] [Fr. subtiliser, Sp. sutilizar, It. sottilizzare.]

  1. To make thin or fine; to make less gross or coarse.
  2. To refine; to spin into niceties; as, to subtilize arguments.

Nor as yet have we subtilized ourselves into savages. Burke.

Sŭb'til-īze, v. i.

verbintransitive

To refine in argument; to make very nice distinctions. “In whatever manner the Papist might subtilize.” Milner.