Part 4441

<hw>Foi"ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A moral weakness; a failing; a weak point; a frailty.</def>

<blockquote> A disposition radically noble and generous, clouded and overshadowed by superficial <b>foibles</b>. <i>De Quincey.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The half of a sword blade or foil blade nearest the point; -- opposed to <i>forte</i>.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>faible</asp>.]</altsp>

<syn>Syn. -- Fault; imperfection; failing; weakness; infirmity; frailty; defect. See <er>Fault</er>.</syn>

<h1>Foil</h1> <Xpage=578>

<hw>Foil</hw> <tt>(foil)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Foiled</er> <tt>(foild)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Foiling</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[F. <ets>fouler</ets> to tread or trample under one's feet, to press, oppress. See <er>Full</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To tread under foot; to trample.</def>

<blockquote> King Richard . . . caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and <b>foiled</b> under foot. <i>Knoless.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote> Whom he did all to pieces breake and <b>foyle</b>, In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat.</def>

<blockquote> And by <?/ mortal man at length am <b>foiled</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote> Her long locks that <b>foil</b> the painter's power. <i>Byron.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To blunt; to dull; to spoil; <as>as, to <ex>foil</ex> the scent in chase</as>.</def>

<i>Addison.</i>

<h1>Foil</h1> <Xpage=578>

<hw>Foil</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[See 6th <er>File</er>.]</ety> <def>To defile; to soil.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Foil</h1> <Xpage=578>

<hw>Foil</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<blockquote> Nor e'er was fate so near a <b>foil</b>. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point.</def>

<blockquote> Blunt as the fencer's <b>foils</b>, which hit, but hurt not. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote> ?socrates contended with a <b>foil</b> against Demosthenes with a word. <i>Mitford.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The track or trail of an animal.</def>

<cs><col>To run a foil</col>,<cd>to lead astray; to puzzle; -- alluding to the habits of some animals of running back over the same track to mislead their pursuers.</cd></cs>

<i>Brewer.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Foil</h1> <Xpage=578>

<hw>Foil</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>foil</ets> leaf, OF. <ets>foil</ets>, <ets>fuil</ets>, <ets>fueil</ets>, <ets>foille</ets>, <ets>fueille</ets>, F. <ets>feuille</ets>, fr. L. <ets>folium</ets>, pl. <ets>folia</ets>; akin to Gr.<?/ , and perh. to E. <ets>blade</ets>. Cf. <er>Foliage</er>, <er>Folio</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; <as>as, brass <ex>foil</ex>; tin <ex>foil</ex>; gold <ex>foil</ex>.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Jewelry)</fld> <def>A thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; -- employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and inferior stones.</def>