Webster's English Dictionary

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foil

Cross references:
  1. frustrate             
 
1. foil \'fo.i(*)l\ vt [ME foilen to trample, full cloth, fr. MF fouler - 
   more at FUL]L obs  1: TRAMPLE  2a: to prevent from attaining an end : 
   DEFEAT  2b: to bring to naught 
2. foil n archaic  1: DEFEAT  archaic  2: the track or trail of an animal  
   3a: a fencing weapon with a flat guard and a light flexible blade tapering  
   to a blunt point pl  3b: the art or practice of fencing with foils 
3. foil n [ME, fr. MF foille (fr. L folia, pl. of folium) & foil,] fr. L 
   folium - more at BLADE 1: a plant leaf - used in compounds  2a: an 
   indentation between cusps in Gothic tracery  2b: one of several arcs that 
   enclose a complex figure  3a: very thin sheet metal  3b: a thin coat of tin 
   or silver laid on the back of a mirror  4: a thin piece of metal or other 
   material put under a paste or inferior st one to add color or brilliancy 5: 
   one that serves as a contrast to another 
4. foil vt 1: to back or cover with foil  2: to enhance by contrast