Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Spy
Spy
(spī)
, Verb.
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
, Verb.
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.
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 your 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
out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Num. xxi. 32.
Spy
,Verb.
I.
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
It is my nature’s plague
To
To
spy
into abuses. Shakespeare
1.
One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others.
“These wretched spies of wit.” Dryden.
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.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Spy
SPY
,Noun.
1.
A person sent into an enemys camp to inspect their works, ascertain their works, ascertain their strength and their intentions, to watch their movements, and secretly communicate intelligence to the proper officer. By the laws of war among all civilized nations, a spy is subjected to capital punishment.2.
A person deputed to watch the conduct of others.3.
One who watches the conduct of others.These wretched spies of wit.
SPY
,Verb.
T.
1.
To see; to gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment. It is the same as espy; as, to spy land from the mast head of a ship.As tiger spied two gentle fawns.
One in reading skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration.
2.
To discover by close search or examination; as, a lawyer in examining the pleadings in a case, spies a defect.3.
To explore; to view, inspect and examine secretly; as a country; usually with out.Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof. Numbers 21.
SPY
,Verb.
I.
It is my natures plague to spy into abuse.