surveillance
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (1)
- close observation of a person or group (usually by the police)
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Surveillance \Sur*veil"lance\, n. [F., fr. surveiller to watch over; sur over + veiller to watch, L. vigilare. See Sur-, and Vigil.] Oversight; watch; inspection; supervision. [1913 Webster]
That sort of surveillance of which . . . the young have accused the old. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]