subtilize \sub"tilize\, v. t. imp.  p. p. subtilized; p.
   pr.  vb. n. subtilizing. l. subtiliser.
   1. to make thin or fine; to make less gross or coarse.
      1913 webster

   2. to refine; to spin into niceties; as, to subtilize
      arguments.
      1913 webster

            nor as yet have we subtilized ourselves into
            savages.                              --burke.
      1913 webster
see also:
subtilized subtilizing 

subtilize \sub"tilize\, v. i.
   to refine in argument; to make very nice distinctions.
   --milner.
   1913 webster

subtilize
     v 1: mark fine distinctions and subtleties, as among words
     2: make more subtle or refined syn: rarefy, sublimate
     3: make senses more keen syn: subtilise
see also:
rarefy sublimate subtilise 

51 moby thesaurus words for "subtilize":
   adulterate, analyze, attenuate, contradistinguish, cut, demarcate,
   demark, dematerialize, differentiate, dilute, discriminate,
   disembody, distinguish, divide, draw the line, emacerate, emaciate,
   enervate, etherealize, expand, mark the interface, pick out,
   rarefy, sap, screen, screen out, segregate, select, separate,
   set a limit, set apart, set off, sever, severalize, sieve,
   sieve out, sift, sift out, sort, sort out, spiritualize,
   split hairs, subdivide, thin, thin away, thin down, thin out,
   water, water down, weaken, winnow