A Foil Sets Off Another Character by Contrast
Foil is thin metal sheet, a fencing sword, and a contrasting character. All three come from one idea.
Foil is thin flexible metal sheet, and also a person or thing that sets off another by contrast. The literary sense comes directly from jewellery: a thin sheet of bright metal was placed behind a gem to reflect light back through it and make it shine. A character who serves as a foil does the same job for another character. A separate *foil* is a light fencing sword, and a third verb *foil* means to thwart, from a word meaning to trample.
- Thin metal sheet. *Aluminium foil.*
- A contrasting character. *A perfect foil.*
- A fencing sword. *A foil.*
- To thwart. *Foil the plan.*
- Latin — *folium*, a leaf. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | foil | Foil. |
| Plural | foils | Foils. |
| Verb | foil | Foiled. |
| Related | folio | A folio. |
| Latin | folium | A leaf. |
- Wrap it in foil.Kitchen.
- He is the perfect foil for her.Contrast.
- The plot was foiled.Thwarting.
The folium family
- Foil — a metal leaf
- Folio — a sheet folded once, and a page number
- Foliage — the leaves of a plant
- Portfolio — a case for carrying loose sheets
- Folic acid — named from Latin *folium*, first isolated from leaves
Old French *foil*, from Latin *folium*, a leaf. The verb meaning to thwart is a separate word.
Why is a contrasting character called a foil?
From the thin bright metal placed behind a gem to make it shine. A foil character performs the same service.
Is foiling a plan the same word?
No. That verb comes from an Old French word meaning to trample or tread down.