foiled

[foild]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR foiled ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Architecture.

ornamented with foils, as a gable, spandrel, or balustrade.

Nearby words

Origin of foiled

First recorded in 1655–65; foil² + -ed³

Related formsun·foiled, adjective

foil

[foil]

verb (used with object)

to prevent the success of; frustrate; balk: Loyal troops foiled his attempt to overthrow the government.

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

noun

Archaic. a defeat; check; repulse.

Origin of foil

1250–1300; Middle English foilen, < Anglo-French foller, Old French fuler to trample, full (cloth). See full²

SYNONYMS FOR foil

1. thwart; impede, hamper.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR foil ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsfoil·a·ble, adjectiveun·foil·a·ble, adjective

foil

[foil]

noun

metal in the form of very thin sheets: aluminum foil.

the metallic backing applied to glass to form a mirror.

a thin layer of metal placed under a gem in a closed setting to improve its color or brilliancy.

a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast: The straight man was an able foil to the comic.

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

an airfoil or hydrofoil.

verb (used with object)

to cover or back with foil.

to set off by contrast.

Origin of foil

1350–1400; Middle English foille, foil < Old French fuelle, fueille, foille (< Latin folia leaves), fuel, fueil, foil (< Latin folium leaf, blade)

SYNONYMS FOR foil

4. contrast, complement, counterpart.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for foiled

A few days later, an Associated Press story reported that Western intelligence agencies had foiled an AQAP plot.
Meet the Terrorist Who Most Terrifies America’s Terrorist Hunters|Daniel Klaidman|August 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In 2002, an Islamist plot to poison the London underground with ricin was foiled as well.
Ricin Scare at the White House: An Eerie Post-9/11 Echo|John Avlon|April 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But then the Bangladeshi whose bomb plot was foiled yesterday turned his aim to the New York Fed.
New York Terror Plot: Why Target the Fed?|Daniel Gross|October 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Among them was an attempt in 2011—foiled at the last minute—to plant a homemade backpack bomb at a Martin Luther King Jr.
Wisconsin Sikh Massacre Reveals Need for Domestic Antiterrorism Unit|Errol Louis|August 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Twice in the last two years, the Saudis foiled al Qaeda plots to attack American cities.
The Return of Prince Bandar: Saudi’s New Spy Chief|Bruce Riedel|July 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Foiled for the time being in his constructive policy, Borrow turned his attention to one of destruction.
The Life of George Borrow|Herbert Jenkins
I had an adventure with a couple of thieves and I foiled them; they've got seventy pistols.
Pee-wee Harris on the Trail|Percy Keese Fitzhugh
But all his schemes were foiled by Cicero, who added unwearied activity to extraordinary penetration.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume III|John Lord
You have foiled me, and conquered: be it so; I congratulate you.
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Foiled for the time being they made for the south coast, where they recruited their strength at one of the outlying settlements.
The Explorers of Australia and their Life-work|Ernest Favenc

British Dictionary definitions for foiled

foil

verb (tr)

to baffle or frustrate (a person, attempt, etc)

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

archaic to repulse or defeat (an attack or assailant)

noun

hunting any scent that obscures the trail left by a hunted animal

archaic a setback or defeat

Derived Formsfoilable, adjective

Word Origin for foil

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

foil

noun

metal in the form of very thin sheetsgold foil; tin foil

the thin metallic sheet forming the backing of a mirror

a thin leaf of shiny metal set under a gemstone to add brightness or colour

a person or thing that gives contrast to another

architect a small arc between cusps, esp as used in Gothic window tracery

short for aerofoil, hydrofoil

verb (tr)

to back or cover with foil

Also: foliate architect to ornament (windows) with foils

Word Origin for foil

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

foil

noun

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

Word Origin for foil

C16: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for foiled

foil

c.1300, foilen "to spoil a trace or scent by running over it," irregularly from Old French fouler "trample," from Vulgar Latin *fullare "to clean cloth" (by treading on it), from Latin fullo "one who cleans cloth, fuller," of unknown origin.

Hence, "to overthrow, defeat" (1540s). Sense of "frustrate the efforts of" first recorded 1560s. Related: Foiled; foiling. Foiled again! as a cry of defeat and dismay is from at least 1847.

foil

"thin sheet of metal," early 14c., from Old French fueille "leaf," from Latin folia "leaves," plural (mistaken for fem. singular) of folium "leaf" (see folio).

The sense of "one who enhances another by contrast" (1580s) is from the practice of backing a gem with metal foil to make it shine more brilliantly. The meaning "light sword used in fencing" (1590s) could be from this sense, or from foil (v.). The modern sense of "metallic food wrap" is from 1946.

foiled

adjective Architecture.

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Nearby words

Origin of foiled

foil

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of foil

foil

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of foil

Examples from the Web for foiled

foil

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for foil

foil

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for foil

foil

noun

Word Origin for foil

foil

foil