Nearby Words

foiled

[foild] Origin

foiled

[foild]
adjective Architecture.
ornamented with foils, as a gable, spandrel, or balustrade.

Origin:
1655–65; foil2 + -ed3

un·foiled, adjective

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Foiled is always a great word to know.
So is elevation. Does it mean:
the distinctively treated upper end of a column
a drawing that represents an object or structure as being projected geometrically on a vertical plane parallel to one of its sides
Dictionary.com Unabridged

foil

1[foil]
verb (used with object)
1.
to prevent the success of; frustrate; balk: Loyal troops foiled his attempt to overthrow the government.
2.
to keep (a person) from succeeding in an enterprise, plan, etc.
noun
3.
Archaic. a defeat; check; repulse.

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

foil·a·ble, adjective
un·foil·a·ble, adjective


1. thwart; impede, hamper.

foil

2[foil]
noun
1.
metal in the form of very thin sheets: aluminum foil.
2.
the metallic backing applied to glass to form a mirror.
3.
a thin layer of metal placed under a gem in a closed setting to improve its color or brilliancy.
4.
a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast: The straight man was an able foil to the comic.
5.
Architecture. an arc or a rounded space between cusps, as in the tracery of a window or other ornamentation.
EXPAND
verb (used with object)
7.
to cover or back with foil.
8.
to set off by contrast.

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


4. contrast, complement, counterpart.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To foiled
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

foil
"thin sheet of metal," late 14c., from O.Fr. fueille "leaf," from L. folia "leaves," pl. (mistaken for fem. sing.) 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
EXPAND
better. 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.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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