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Antonyms for foil


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : foil
Phonetic Transcription : fɔɪl



Definition of foil

Origin :
  • 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.
  • noun contrast
  • verb circumvent, nip in the bud
Example sentences :
  • As a foil to his austerity, therefore, she would be audaciously gay in his presence.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • I ask, why is Tommy to be always the foil of Mr. Barlow to this extent?
  • Extract from : « The Uncommercial Traveller » by Charles Dickens
  • He then, replacing the button, laid the foil down, and resumed his seat and his discourse.
  • Extract from : « David Elginbrod » by George MacDonald
  • Our hero was alive to the emergency, and resolved to foil him.
  • Extract from : « The Young Miner » by Horatio Alger, Jr.
  • As one fences in the dark, instinctively, so she kept him a foil's length away.
  • Extract from : « The Lure of the Mask » by Harold MacGrath
  • Homer had not to wait for Beowulf to serve as a foil to his excellence.
  • Extract from : « Epic and Romance » by W. P. Ker
  • You mean to marry her to foil van Heerden, and after—to dissolve the marriage?
  • Extract from : « The Green Rust » by Edgar Wallace
  • It amuses her and doesn't hurt me; and, of course, I know I am meant to be her foil.
  • Extract from : « Robert Elsmere » by Mrs. Humphry Ward
  • Her part seemed only as a foil to the sombre splendour of his.
  • Extract from : « The Lowest Rung » by Mary Cholmondeley
  • I was but a waif—a foil—a thing for a coquette to play with!
  • Extract from : « The Quadroon » by Mayne Reid

Synonyms for foil

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019