foil 1
— foilable , adj.
/foyl/ , v.t.
1. to prevent the success of; frustrate; balk: Loyal troops foiled his attempt to overthrow the government.
2. to keep (a person) from succeeding in an enterprise, plan, etc.
n.
3. Archaic. a defeat; check; repulse.
[ 1250-1300; ME foilen, foller, OF fuler to trample, full (cloth). See FULL 2 ]
Syn. 1. thwart; impede, hamper.
foil 2
/foyl/ , n.
1. metal in the form of very thin sheets: aluminum foil.
2. the metallic backing applied to glass to form a mirror.
3. a thin layer of metal placed under a gem in a closed setting to improve its color or brilliancy.
4. a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast: The straight man was an able foil to the comic.
5. Archit. an arc or a rounded space between cusps, as in the tracery of a window or other ornamentation.
6. an airfoil or hydrofoil.
v.t.
7. to cover or back with foil.
8. to set off by contrast.
[ 1350-1400; ME foille, foil fuelle, fueille, foille ( folia leaves), fuel, fueil, foil ( folium leaf, blade) ]
Syn. 4. contrast, complement, counterpart.
foil 3
/foyl/ , n. Fencing.
1. a flexible four-sided rapier having a blunt point.
2. foils , the art or practice of fencing with this weapon, points being made by touching the trunk of the opponent's body with the tip of the weapon.
[ 1585-95; orig. uncert. ]