See Also:

spy(2) (iou)



spy verb. . ME.

I. verb trans.
a. Watch in a secret or stealthy manner; keep under observation with hostile intent; act as a spy on (a person). Now rare. ME.
b. Conduct secret or stealthy investigation or observation in (a country or place), esp. from hostile motives. Now chiefly in spy out the land. ME.
c. (Seek to) discover or ascertain by stealthy observation (something, that, where, etc.). Now rare. ME.
Seek an opportunity or look out for in a close or stealthy manner. Now rare. ME.
Look at, examine, or observe closely or carefully, esp. through a spy-glass or telescope. Now rare. ME.
Catch sight of; discern; discover. Cf. ESPY verb 1. ME.
W. March Miss Octavia, spying her through the blinds, came down..to meet her.
Seek or find out by observation or scrutiny. LME.
II. verb intrans.
Make observations (esp. with a spy-glass); keep watch; be on the look out. Also foll. by at, for (a thing). ME.
D. Hart-Davis The stalkers..stopped to spy for a stag they'd seen.
Conduct secret or stealthy investigation or observation (on); act as a spy (on). Also, pry (into). LME.
D. Francis No one followed us..or spied on us. A. Cohen Everyone spied, and reported to the police.
Phrases etc.: I-SPY. Northern Spy: see NORTHERN adjective. spying-glass (now rare or obsolete) a spy-glass, an opera glass. spy strangers: see STRANGER noun.
Comb.: spyglass a small telescope, a field-glass; spyhole a peep-hole.