Adjective

(er)

Not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.

*

*2004: , Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage

*:Throughout the first week of his presidency, Dulles and Bissell continued to brief Kennedy on their strategy for Cuba, but the men were vague and their meetings offered little in the way of hard facts.

Not having a precise meaning.

:

Not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.

:

Not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.

:

Not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.

Lacking expression; vacant.

Not sharply outlined; hazy.

*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), title= “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days, chapter=Ep./1/2

, passage=He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps.}}

Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.

*Sir (c.1564-1627)

*:to set upon the vague villains

*(John Keats) (1795-1821)

*:She danced along with vague , regardless eyes.

Adjective

(er)

Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

The difference is subtle , but you can hear it if you listen carefully.

(of a thing) Cleverly contrived.

(of a person or animal) Cunning, skillful.

insidious

* 1623 , , act iv, scene 4,

Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle , bloody, treacherous.

Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.