Discussion Groups / English Usage / August 2008

"Subtly" means something like "in a delicate and understated way", in
a way you would have to pay close attention to see.

She politely made it clear that she had a low opinion of him; later,
without much noticeable change, she seemed to become submissive, to
see him as her master in some way; finally, she seemed so eager to
become better friends with him that you could say, figuratively (since
this is all very subtle), that she was breathing hard.

I didn't address "slyly" above, because I wondered if it was a typo
for "shyly".  "Slyly submissive" would mean submissive in a deceptive
or hidden way; "shyly submissive" would mean submissive in a timid
way, as if she were a little frightened.

All of these words and phrases are used in their normal meanings.  Do
you need an online dictionary?  There are a number of them available
for consultation at OneLook:
http://www.onelook.com/ .

It sounds like porn.