Syn. — Fault; imperfection; failing; weakness; infirmity; frailty; defect. See Fault.
FOIL
Foil (foil), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foiled (foild); p. pr. & vb. n.
Foiling.] Etym: [F. fouler to tread or trample under one's feet, to
press, oppress. See Full, v. t.]
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 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.
FOIL
Foil, v. t. Etym: [See 6th File.]
Defn: To defile; to soil. [Obs.]
FOIL
Foil, n.
1. Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage. Milton. Nor e'er was fate so near a foil. Dryden.
2. A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point. Blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not. Shak. socrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a word. Mitford.