figure vs foul

figure

verb
  • To embellish. 

  • To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize. 

  • To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. 

  • To calculate, to solve a mathematical problem. 

  • To enter into; to be a part of. 

  • To think, to assume, to suppose, to reckon. 

  • To embellish with design; to adorn with figures. 

  • To come to understand. 

  • To be reasonable. 

noun
  • A visible pattern as in wood or cloth. 

  • A number, an amount. 

  • A drawing or diagram conveying information. 

  • A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body. 

  • A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment. 

  • The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term. 

  • A figure of speech. 

  • The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person. 

  • A person or thing representing a certain consciousness. 

  • A numeral. 

  • A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses. 

  • Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression. 

  • The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body. 

  • A shape. 

  • Any complex dance moveᵂ. 

foul

verb
  • To besmirch. 

  • To make contact with an opposing player in order to gain advantage. 

  • To become clogged. 

  • To become entangled. 

  • To come into contact or collide with. 

  • To make dirty. 

  • To hit a ball outside of the baselines. 

  • To hit outside of the baselines. 

  • To clog or obstruct. 

  • To entangle. 

  • To commit a foul. 

noun
  • A breach of the rules of a game, especially one involving inappropriate contact with an opposing player in order to gain an advantage; for example, tripping someone up in soccer, or contact of any kind in basketball. 

  • A foul ball, a ball which has been hit outside of the base lines. 

  • A (usually accidental) contact between a bowler and the lane before the bowler has released the ball. 

adj
  • Entangled and therefore restricting free movement, not clear. 

  • Detestable, unpleasant, loathsome. 

  • Obscene, vulgar or abusive. 

  • Disgusting, repulsive; causing disgust. 

  • (with "of") Positioned on, in, or near enough to (a specified area) so as to obstruct it. 

  • Dishonest or not conforming to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc. 

  • Unpleasant, stormy or rainy. 

  • Covered with, or containing unclean matter; dirty. 

  • Outside of the base lines; in foul territory. 

How often have the words figure and foul occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )