Spy \Spy\ (sp[imac]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied (sp[imac]d);
p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.]
[OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F.
['e]pier, OHG. speh[=o]n, G. sp[aum]hen; akin to L. specere
to see, Skr. spa[,c]. [root] 169. Cf. Espy, v. t.,
Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect, Conspicuous, Despise,
Frontispiece, Inspect, Prospect, Respite, Scope,
Specimen, Spectacle, Specter, Speculate, Spice,
Spite, Suspicion.]
1. To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state
of concealment; to espy; to see.
[1913 Webster]
One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
2. To discover by close search or examination. [1913 Webster]
Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. --Latimer. [1913 Webster]
3. To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out. [1913 Webster]
Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. --Num. xxi. 32. [1913 Webster]
spying
noun1: keeping a secret or furtive watch
2: the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes [syn: spying, undercover work]
3: the act of detecting something; catching sight of something [syn: detection, catching, espial, spying, spotting]
33 Moby Thesaurus words for "spying": bugging, cloak-and-dagger work, counterespionage, counterintelligence, detection, electronic surveillance, espial, espionage, following, intelligence, intelligence work, looking, lookout, military intelligence, note, notice, observance, observation, regard, respect, secret police, secret service, shadowing, stakeout, surveillance, tailing, trailing, viewing, watch, watching, wiretap, wiretapping, witnessing
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