The spelling of the word "foiled" in English is closely related to its pronunciation. The word is pronounced /fɔɪld/, with the "oi" diphthong representing a combination of the short "o" and the long "i" sounds. The letter "e" at the end of the word signals that the "o" in "foil" is pronounced as a long vowel sound, rather than the short vowel sound used when the word is spelled with just one "l". Therefore, the spelling of "foiled" reflects both its pronunciation and its etymology as a variant of the word "foil".
Foiled is an adjective that refers to something that has been prevented or frustrated in its intended purpose or outcome. It describes an action or plan that has been spoiled, thwarted, or rendered unsuccessful. The term can be used to describe a situation where someone's efforts or goals are met with failure or obstruction.
When something is foiled, it implies that an obstacle or external factor has interfered with the intended accomplishment, often resulting in disappointment, frustration, or dissatisfaction. This can occur in various contexts, such as a heist or robbery where the criminal's plan is foiled by law enforcement, or an individual's attempt to deceive or trick others being exposed and thwarted.
The term can also be applied in a broader sense, such as when plans or schemes are foiled by unforeseen circumstances or unfavorable conditions. For example, a carefully planned outdoor event may be foiled by sudden inclement weather, forcing the organizers to cancel or make last-minute changes.
Overall, the word "foiled" conveys the notion of being hindered or obstructed, suggesting that the desired outcome or course of action has been derailed, leaving those involved disappointed or thwarted in their efforts.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "foiled" has its roots in the Old French term "foil", which means "to trample or tread down by horse". This term, in turn, comes from the Latin word "folia", which means "a leaf" or "thin metal sheet". The sense of "trampling down" in Old French evolved into the idea of "thwarting or frustrating someone's plans or efforts". Thus, the term "foiled" came to refer to being prevented or hindered in achieving a goal or objective.