foil

¹

[ foil ]

verb (used with object)

1. to prevent the success of; frustrate; balk:

   Loyal troops foiled his attempt to overthrow the government.

   Synonyms: hamper, impede, thwart

2. to keep (a person) from succeeding in an enterprise, plan, etc.

noun

1. Archaic. a defeat; check; repulse.

foil

²

[ foil ]

noun

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.

   Synonyms: counterpart, complement, contrast

5. Architecture. an arc or a rounded space between cusps, as in the tracery of a window or other ornamentation.
6. an airfoil or hydrofoil.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or back with foil.
2. to set off by contrast.

foil

³

[ foil ]

noun

, 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.

foil

¹

/ fɔɪl /

noun

1. a light slender flexible sword tipped by a button and usually having a bell-shaped guard

foil

²

/ fɔɪl /

noun

1. metal in the form of very thin sheets

   tin foil

   gold foil

2. the thin metallic sheet forming the backing of a mirror
3. a thin leaf of shiny metal set under a gemstone to add brightness or colour
4. a person or thing that gives contrast to another
5. architect a small arc between cusps, esp as used in Gothic window tracery
6. short for aerofoil hydrofoil

verb

1. to back or cover with foil
2. Alsofoliate architect to ornament (windows) with foils

foil

³

/ fɔɪl /

verb

1. to baffle or frustrate (a person, attempt, etc)
2. hunting (of hounds, hunters, etc) to obliterate the scent left by a hunted animal or (of a hunted animal) to run back over its own trail
3. archaic.
   to repulse or defeat (an attack or assailant)

noun

1. hunting any scent that obscures the trail left by a hunted animal
2. archaic.
   a setback or defeat

Derived Forms

• ˈfoilable, adjective

Other Words From

• foila·ble adjective
• un·foila·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foil¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English foilen, fuylen “to trample, oppress, torment, mortify (the flesh),” irregular variant of fullen “to trample, full (cloth),” from Anglo-French foller, Old French fuler, from Vulgar Latin fullāre, from Latin fullō “fuller, launderer”; full ²

Origin of foil²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English foil, foille “leaf (of a plant or a book),” from Old French fuelle, fueille, foille (from Latin folia “leaves,” reinterpreted as a feminine singular noun) and from Old French fuel, fueil, foil (from Latin folium “leaf of a plant, blade”)

Origin of foil³

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of foil¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of foil²

C14: from Old French foille , from Latin folia leaves, plural of folium

Origin of foil³

C13 foilen to trample, from Old French fouler , from Old French fuler tread down, full ²

Example Sentences

“Friendships can be a mirror for yourself,” she says, calling close pals “a foil for ourselves.”

From Los Angeles Times

His media career blossomed as a jovial foil to the tough-talking, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane on Sky Sports' Super Sunday.

From BBC

“Madden made for an expansive, excessive, endlessly voluble analyst, and Summerall provided his perfect play-by-play foil,” Times reporter Scott Collins wrote in an appreciation after Summerall’s death in 2013.

From Los Angeles Times

“The state of California is a mess,” Trump said in September, using us as a foil, but also as a springboard, casting a global economic powerhouse as a failure, a sanctuary cesspool and a symbol of wretchedly woke excess.

From Los Angeles Times

As the liberal antithesis to conservative dogma on abortion, immigration and LGBTQ+ rights, California is naturally poised to reprise the role the state played during the first Trump presidency as a GOP foil and protector of Democratic values.

From Los Angeles Times