Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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}.