Hypertext Webster Gateway: "spying"
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 WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
spying
n 1: keeping a secret or furtive watch
2: the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes
[syn: {undercover work}]
3: the act of detecting something; catching sight of something
[syn: {detection}, {catching}, {espial}, {spotting}]
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