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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [foil]
FOIL, v.t. 1. To frustrate; to defeat; to render vain or nugatory, as an effort or attempt. The enemy attempted to pass the river, but was foiled. He foiled his adversaries.And by a mortal man at length am foiled.2. To blunt; to dull.When light wing'd toys of feathered cupid foil -3. To defeat; to interrupt, or to render imperceptible; as, to foil the scent in a chase.FOIL, n. Defeat; frustration; the failure of success when on the point of being secured; miscarriage. Death never won a stake with greater toil, nor e'er was fate to near a foil.FOIL, n. A blunt sword, or one that has a button at the end covered with leather; used in fencing. Isocrates contended with a foil, against Demosthenes with a sword.FOIL, n. [L. folium. Gr.] 1. A leaf or thin plate of metal used in gilding.2. Among jewelers, a thin leaf of metal placed under precious stones, to make them appear transparent, and to give them a particular color, as the stone appears to be of the color of the foil. Hence,3. Any thing of another color, or of different qualities, which serves to adorn, or set off another thing to advantage.Hector has a foil to set him off.4. A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a locking glass, to cause reflection.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [foil]
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FOIL, v.t. 1. To frustrate; to defeat; to render vain or nugatory, as an effort or attempt. The enemy attempted to pass the river, but was foiled. He foiled his adversaries.And by a mortal man at length am foiled.2. To blunt; to dull.When light wing'd toys of feathered cupid foil -3. To defeat; to interrupt, or to render imperceptible; as, to foil the scent in a chase.FOIL, n. Defeat; frustration; the failure of success when on the point of being secured; miscarriage. Death never won a stake with greater toil, nor e'er was fate to near a foil.FOIL, n. A blunt sword, or one that has a button at the end covered with leather; used in fencing. Isocrates contended with a foil, against Demosthenes with a sword.FOIL, n. [L. folium. Gr.] 1. A leaf or thin plate of metal used in gilding.2. Among jewelers, a thin leaf of metal placed under precious stones, to make them appear transparent, and to give them a particular color, as the stone appears to be of the color of the foil. Hence,3. Any thing of another color, or of different qualities, which serves to adorn, or set off another thing to advantage.Hector has a foil to set him off.4. A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a locking glass, to cause reflection. |
FOIL, n.1Defeat; frustration; the failure of success when on the point of being secured; miscarriage.
Death never won a stake with greater toil, / Nor e'er was fate so near a foil. Dryden.
FOIL, n.2 [W. fwyl, a driving, impulsion, a stroke, a foil.]A blunt sword, or one that has a button at the end covered with leather; used in fencing.
Isocrates contended with a foil, against Demosthenes with a sword. Mitford.
FOIL, n.3 [Fr. feuille; It. foglia; Port. folha; Sp. hoja; L. folium; Gr. φυλλον.]- A leaf or thin plate of metal used in gilding.
- Among jewelers, a thin leaf of metal placed under precious stones, to make them appear transparent, and to give them a particular color, as the stone appears to be of the color of the foil. Hence,
- Any thing of another color, or of different qualities, which serves to adorn, or set off another thing to advantage.
Hector has a foil to set him off. Broome.
- A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection. Encyc.
FOIL, v.t. [In Norm. afolee is rendered crippled; and afoula, damaged, wasted. If the primary or true literal sense is, to blunt, this word may be from the same root as fool; if to render vain, it would naturally be allied to fail.]- To frustrate; to defeat; to render vain or nugatory, as an effort or attempt. The enemy attempted to pass the river, but was foiled. He foiled his adversaries.
And by a mortal man at length, am foiled. Dryden.
- To blunt; to dull.
When light wing'd toys / Of feathered Cupid foil. Shak.
- To defeat; to interrupt, or to render imperceptible; as, to foil the scent in a chase. Addison.
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Foil
- To tread under foot] to trample.
- To defile; to soil.
- Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat;
frustration; miscarriage.
- A leaf or very
thin sheet of metal; as, brass foil; tin foil; gold
foil.
- To render (an effort or attempt) vain or
nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to
defeat.
- A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling
a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at
the point.
- 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.
- To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to
foil the scent in chase.
- The track or trail of an animal.
- Anything that serves by contrast of color
or quality to adorn or set off another thing to advantage.
- A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid
on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection.
- 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 FOIL, verb transitive 1. To frustrate; to defeat; to render vain or nugatory, as an effort or attempt. The enemy attempted to pass the river, but was foiled. He foiled his adversaries. And by a mortal man at length am foiled. 2. To blunt; to dull. When light wing'd toys of feathered cupid foil - 3. To defeat; to interrupt, or to render imperceptible; as, to foil the scent in a chase. FOIL, noun Defeat; frustration; the failure of success when on the point of being secured; miscarriage. Death never won a stake with greater toil, nor e'er was fate to near a foil FOIL, noun A blunt sword, or one that has a button at the end covered with leather; used in fencing. Isocrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a sword. FOIL, noun [Latin folium. Gr.] 1. A leaf or thin plate of metal used in gilding. 2. Among jewelers, a thin leaf of metal placed under precious stones, to make them appear transparent, and to give them a particular color, as the stone appears to be of the color of the foil Hence, 3. Any thing of another color, or of different qualities, which serves to adorn, or set off another thing to advantage. Hector has a foil to set him off. 4. A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a locking glass, to cause reflection. |
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