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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Foil \Foil\ (foil), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Foiled} (foild); p. pr. & vb. n. {Foiling}.] [F. fouler to tread or trample under one's feet, to press, oppress. See {Full}, verb (used with an object)]
1. To tread under foot; to trample.
King Richard . . . caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and foiled under foot. --Knoless.
Whom he did all to pieces breake and foyle, In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle. --Spenser.
2. To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat.
And by ? mortal man at length am foiled. --Dryden.
Her long locks that foil the painter's power. --Byron.
3. To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to foil the scent in chase. --Addison.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
foiled
adjective: disappointingly unsuccessful; "disappointed expectations and thwarted ambitions"; "their foiled attempt to capture Calais"; "many frustrated poets end as pipe-smoking teachers"; "his best efforts were thwarted" [syn: {defeated}, {disappointed}, {discomfited}, {frustrated}, {thwarted}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
25 Moby Thesaurus words for "foiled": baffled, balked, betrayed, bilked, blasted, blighted, chapfallen, crestfallen, crossed, crushed, dashed, defeated, disappointed, dished, disillusioned, dissatisfied, frustrated, ill done-by, ill-served, let down, out of countenance, regretful, sorely disappointed, soured, thwarted
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |