spy

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: undercover agentdescryspotespystagsnoopsleuthsight

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitorsSynonyms: undercover agent
  2. a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people“my spies tell me that you had a good time last night”

Verb (4)

  1. catch sight ofSynonyms: descryspotespy
  2. watch, observe, or inquire secretlySynonyms: stagsnoopsleuth
  3. catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes“he caught sight of the king's men coming over the ridge”Synonyms: sight
  4. secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage“spy for the Russians”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Spy \Spy\ (sp[imac]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spied (sp[imac]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Spying.] [OE. spien, espien, OF. espier, F. ['e]pier, OHG. speh[=o]n, G. sp[aum]hen; akin to L. specere to see, Skr. spa[,c]. [root] 169. Cf. Espy, v. t., Aspect, Auspice, Circumspect, Conspicuous, Despise, Frontispiece, Inspect, Prospect, Respite, Scope, Specimen, Spectacle, Specter, Speculate, Spice, Spite, Suspicion.]

1.To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see. [1913 Webster]

One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration.— Swift.[1913 Webster]

2.To discover by close search or examination. [1913 Webster]

Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England.— Latimer.[1913 Webster]

3.To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; -- usually with out. [1913 Webster]

Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof.— Num. xxi. 32.[1913 Webster]
Spy \Spy\, v. i. To search narrowly; to scrutinize. [1913 Webster]

It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Spy \Spy\, n.; pl. Spies (sp[imac]z). [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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Syn: See Emissary, and Scout. [1913 Webster]

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