spy
7 dictionary results for: spy
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
spy 
[spahy] Pronunciation Key, noun, plural spies, verb, spied, spy·ing.
—Related forms
[spahy] Pronunciation Key, noun, plural spies, verb, spied, spy·ing. –noun
–verb (used without object)
–verb (used with object)
| 1. | a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, esp. with reference to military or naval affairs. |
| 2. | a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others. |
| 3. | a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, esp. one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor: an industrial spy. |
| 4. | the act of spying. |
| 5. | to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often fol. by on or upon). |
| 6. | to act as a spy; engage in espionage. |
| 7. | to be on the lookout; keep watch. |
| 8. | to search for or examine something closely or carefully. |
| 9. | to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry: to spy a rare bird overhead. |
| 10. | to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often fol. by out). |
| 11. | to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent. |
| 12. | to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully. |
[Origin: 1200–50; (v.) ME spien, aph. var. of espien to espy; (n.) ME, aph. var. of espy a spy < OF espie]
] —Related forms
spyship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| spy
(spī) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. spies (spīz)
v. spied (spīd), spy·ing, spies (spīz) v. tr.
v. intr.
[Middle English spie, from Old French espie, from espier, to watch, of Germanic origin; see spek- in Indo-European roots.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
spy
spy
c.1250, from O.Fr. espier "to spy," espie "a spy," probably from Frank. *spehon, from P.Gmc. *spekh- (cf. O.H.G. *spehon "to look out for, scout, spy," Ger. spähen "to spy," M.Du. spien), the Gmc. survivals of the productive PIE root *spek- "to look" (see scope (1)). Spy-glass "telescope, field-glass" is from 1706.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| spy | |
noun | |
| 1. | (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors |
| 2. | a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people; "my spies tell me that you had a good time last night" |
verb | |
| 1. | catch sight of [syn: descry] |
| 2. | watch, observe, or inquire secretly |
| 3. | catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; "he caught sight of the king's men coming over the ridge" |
| 4. | secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage; "spy for the Russians" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spy
Spy\, v. i. To search narrowly; to scrutinize. It is my nature's plague To spy into abuses. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spy
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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