Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Espying"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Espy \Es*py"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Espied}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Espying}.] [OF. espier, F. ['e]pier, from OHG. speh?n to
watch, spy, G. sp["a]hen; akin to L. specere to look, species
sight, shape, appearance, kind. See {Spice}, {Spy}, and cf.
{Espionage}.]
1. To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover,
as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to
notice; to see at a glance; to discern unexpectedly; to
spy; as, to espy land; to espy a man in a crowd.

As one of them opened his sack to give his ass
provender in the inn, . . . he espied his money.
--Gen. xlii.
27.

A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant
from a haven broad. --Wordsworth.

2. To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to
watch; to observe.

He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. --Jer.
Taylor.

Syn: To discern; discover; detect; descry; spy.

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