Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Spy"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Spy \Spy\, v. i.
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Spy \Spy\, n.; pl. {Spies}. [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.
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.
Syn: See {Emissary}, and {Scout}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
spy
n 1: a secret agent hired by a state to obtain (military)
information about its enemies or by a business to obtain
industrial secrets from competitors [syn: {undercover
agent}]
2: a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people;
"my spies tell me that you had a good time last night"
v 1: catch sight of [syn: {descry}, {spot}, {espy}]
2: watch, observe, or inquire secretly [syn: {stag}, {snoop}, {sleuth}]
3: secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage
in espionage; "spy for the Russians"
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