GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Foil , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foiled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Foiling.] [F. fouler to tread or trample under one's feet, to press, oppress. See Full, v. t.]
   To tread under foot; to trample.
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    King Richard . . . caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and foiled under foot.
   Knoless.
   
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    Whom he did all to pieces breake and foyle,
   In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle.
   Spenser.
   
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   To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat.
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    And by  mortal man at length am foiled.
   Dryden.
   
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    Her long locks that foil the painter's power.
   Byron.
   
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   To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to foil the scent in chase.
   Addison.
   
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2.       
   Foil, v. t. [See 6th File.] To defile; to soil. [Obs.]
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3.       
   Foil, n.
   Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage.
   Milton.
   
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    Nor e'er was fate so near a foil.
   Dryden.
   
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   A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point.
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    Blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not.
   Shak.
   
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    Isocrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a word.
   Mitford.
   
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   The track or trail of an animal.
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   To run a foil,to lead astray; to puzzle; -- alluding to the habits of some animals of running back over the same track to mislead their pursuers.
   Brewer.
   
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4.       
   Foil, n. [OE. foil leaf, OF. foil, fuil, fueil, foille, fueille, F. feuille, fr. L. folium, pl. folia; akin to Gr.  , and perh. to E. blade. Cf. Foliage, Folio.]
   A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as, brass foil; tin foil; gold foil.
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   (Jewelry) A thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; -- employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and inferior stones.
   Ure.
   
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   Anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or set off another thing to advantage.
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   As she a black silk cap on him began
   To set, for foil of his milk-white to serve.
   Sir P. Sidney.
   
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   Hector has a foil to set him off.
   Broome.
   
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   A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection.
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   (Arch.) The space between the cusps in Gothic architecture; a rounded or leaflike ornament, in windows, niches, etc. A group of foils is called trefoil, quatrefoil, quinquefoil, etc., according to the number of arcs of which it is composed.
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   Foil stone, an imitation of a jewel or precious stone.
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