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Definitions for: Spy
[n] a secret agent hired by a state to obtain (military) information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
[n] a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people; "my spies tell me that you had a good time last night"
[v] secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage; "spy for the Russians"
[v] watch, observe, or inquire secretly
[v] catch sight of
Webster (1913) Definition: 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.
Spy, v. i.
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. --Shak.
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.
Synonyms: descry, espy, sleuth, snoop, spot, stag, undercover agent
See Also: counterspy, double agent, enquire, espionage agent, foreign agent, infiltrator, inquire, intelligence agent, intelligence officer, investigate, looker, Margarete Gertrud Zelle, Mata Hari, mole, monitor, operative, ride herd on, secret agent, shadow, shadower, sight, sleeper, snoop, snooper, spectator, supervise, tail, viewer, watcher, witness
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