foil

I. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, alteration of fullen to full cloth, from Anglo-French foller — more at full Date: 14th century 1. obsolete trample 2. a. to prevent from attaining an end ; defeat <

always able to foil her enemies

> b. to bring to naught ; thwart <

foiled the plot

> Synonyms: see frustrate II. noun Date: 15th century 1. archaic defeat 2. archaic the track or trail of an animal III. noun Etymology: Middle English, leaf, from Anglo-French fuille, foille (from Latin folia, plural of folium) & fuil, from Latin folium — more at blade Date: 14th century 1. very thin sheet metal <

aluminum foil

> 2. a thin piece of material (as metal) put under an inferior or paste stone to add color or brilliance 3. someone or something that serves as a contrast to another <

acted as a foil for a comedian

> 4. a. an indentation between cusps in Gothic tracery b. one of several arcs that enclose a complex figure 5. hydrofoil 1 IV. transitive verb Date: 1611 1. to back or cover with foil 2. to enhance by contrast V. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1594 1. a light fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a flexible blade of rectangular section tapering to a blunted point — compare epee, saber 2. the art or sport of fencing with the foil — often used in plural