foil vs ruin

foil

verb
  • To prevent (something) from being accomplished. 

  • To expand a product of two or more algebraic expressions, typically binomials. 

  • To blunt; to dull; to spoil. 

  • To prevent (someone) from accomplishing something. 

  • To cover or wrap with foil. 

noun
  • Thin aluminium/aluminum (or, formerly, tin) used for wrapping food. 

  • A thin, transparent plastic material on which marks are made and projected for the purposes of presentation. See transparency. 

  • A very thin sheet of metal. 

  • A thin layer of metal put between a jewel and its setting to make it seem more brilliant. 

  • A very thin sword with a blunted (or foiled) tip 

  • Anything that acts by contrast to emphasise the characteristics of something. 

  • In literature, theatre/theater, etc., a character who helps emphasize the traits of the main character and who usually acts as an opponent or antagonist, but can also serve as the sidekick of the protagonist. 

  • One of the incorrect answers presented in a multiple-choice test. 

  • A stylized flower or leaf. 

  • Failure when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage. 

  • The track of an animal. 

ruin

verb
  • To destroy or make something no longer usable. 

  • To seduce or debauch, and thus harm the social standing of. 

  • To make something less enjoyable or likeable. 

  • To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to have a disastrous effect on something. 

  • To cause the fiscal ruin of; to bankrupt or drive out of business. 

  • To reveal the ending of (a story); to spoil. 

noun
  • The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed. 

  • A change that destroys or defeats something; destruction; overthrow. 

  • The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle. 

  • The act of ruining something. 

  • Complete financial loss; bankruptcy. 

  • Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction. 

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