Spy \Spy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied; p. pr. & vb. n.
Spying.]
[OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. ['e]pier, OHG.
speh?n, G. sp["a]hen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa(?).
? 169. Cf. Espy, v.t., Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect,
Conspicuouc, Despise, Frontispiece, Inspect,
Prospect, Respite, Scope, Scecimen, Spectacle,
Specter, Speculate, Spice, Spite, Suspicion.]
To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of
concealment; to espy; to see.
One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he
spied a note of admiration. --Swift.
2. To discover by close search or examination.
Look about with yout eyes; spy what things are to be
reformed in the church of England. --Latimer.
3. To explore; to view; inspect; and examine secretly, as a
country; -- usually with out.
Moses sent to spy Jaazer, and they took the villages
thereof. --Num. xxi.
32.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|