GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

      
Spy (spī), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied (spīd); p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. épier, OHG. spehōn, G. spähen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spaç. √ 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.

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One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration. Swift.

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2. To discover by close search or examination.

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Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England. Latimer.

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3. To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out.

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Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Num. xxi. 32.

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Spy, v. i. To search narrowly; to scrutinize.

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It is my nature's plague

To spy into abuses. Shak.

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Spy, n.; pl. Spies (spīz). [See Spy, v., and cf. Espy, n.]
1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others. “These wretched spies of wit.”  Dryden.

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2. (Mil.) A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer.

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Spy money, money paid to a spy; the reward for private or secret intelligence regarding the enemy. -- Spy Wednesday (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding the festival of Easter; -- so called in allusion to the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

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Syn. -- See Emissary, and Scout.

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